How To Navigate Rejection From Full-Time Jobs

By Julia Dunn on April 25, 2016

When you’re looking hard for a full-time job, it can be incredibly discouraging not to get an interview appointment (or worse, to interview and then not be offered the job). It is too easy to find reasons to criticize yourself or judge yourself for various flaws you may have seen in your interactions with employers, but this type of behavior can take a serious toll on your morale.

Here’s how to get over rejection from full-time jobs.

1.) Do not ruminate over mistakes/replay job scenes in your head (without a purpose).

If your go-to strategy is to replay social interactions in your head after you’ve experienced them, you may want to think again about whether doing this is productive. Re-imagining the 20 second conversation you had with the hiring manager on the phone while scheduling your appointment time, remembering that significantly less-than-strong answer you gave to a particular interview question, and anything in between can make you much more anxious than you might think.

Image via Pixabay

If you are rejected from a job and proceed to generate a list of ways in which you think you messed up, overthinking the events related to your job search may bring you down rather than lift you up. If you absolutely must think back on your question responses and behavior with employers after the fact, do so in more of a reflective manner than a critical one. Treat yourself with kindness and come up with constructive suggestions for yourself about how you could better address an employment situation you faced if it arises again in the future. Beating yourself up is never a motivating activity and it certainly won’t make you want to keep job-hunting.

2.) Make a huge poster of your top skills and most lucrative experiences.

Using colorful markers and a huge poster paper, create a list of your strongest and most employable skills, along with associated experiences that may connect to your strengths. If you developed killer teaching skills from an internship as an instructional assistant, explore the ways in which you can connect your experience to the translated skill that came out of it.

If you practice linking up skills with experiences, you’ll come off as more qualified in future job interviews; essentially, you must learn to back up your qualities and skills with something tangible, as this is what employers like to see. Hang this poster up in your living space as a reminder of the skills you have, and each day, tell yourself that there is an employer out there looking for someone with your talents and experience (there really is).

3.) Remember that hiring goes both ways.

Being rejected from a job doesn’t necessarily say anything personal about you or your value. It is helpful to remember that a job rejection can be seen from both your own standpoint and the employer’s standpoint. Maybe the job wasn’t a good fit for you like you may have thought; it could be a positive thing not to get the job that isn’t right for you.

A common phrase thrown around in the context of job hunting and interviewing is something to the effect of “you are interviewing the employer just as much as the employer is interviewing you.” Remind yourself that you will get the job that is right for you because the employer will see you as most appropriate for the position. Being let go from one opportunity allows you to occupy a better opportunity.

4.) Keep applying.

One rejection or even two should not halt your job search. Continue with applying and keeping your eye out for opportunities that seem suited for you, and make sure to put together a strong application for each one. This means a spotless resume and cover letter tailored to each individual job (never forget to customize your documents to the employer who will be receiving and reviewing them) and picking out a killer interview outfit. Recruit your friends to help strengthen your interviewing techniques and responses to difficult yet common interview questions.

Use all of your resources and stay on top of your communications with employers. If you think your social media doesn’t reflect the best side of you, make sure to clean up your Facebook and Twitter (plus other accounts if you have them) to maximize your chances of being considered for the jobs you want. Update your LinkedIn and learn how to use this tool to your advantage as well — online networking is a huge help in finding lasting full-time jobs.

It is just as much a skill knowing how to handle job rejection as it is knowing how to get a job in the first place. The biggest mistake people make when coping with job rejection is failing to practice self-care. When you face a discouraging setback, never blame yourself too harshly, but rather develop wisdom from your experience no matter how painful. Your resilience will serve you well as you continue attending interviews and showcasing yourself to the next potential employer.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format