Bounce back from rejection and stay on the right path with your job search.
For the average person on the hunt for a job, rejection is just part of the game that’s just the reality of the situation. But some circumstances make moving past that rejection harder than others. It is discouraging when you apply for a job and hear absolutely nothing back. Worse than that, however, are the jobs you come close to getting but fall just short. The near-misses, those dream jobs that pass you by , those are the ones that are hard to shake off. Unfortunately, it’s something that you’ll just have to deal with, regardless of how difficult that might be. So keep moving forward and learn how to bounce back when you don’t get the job.
Get some feedback.
Whenever you are turned down for a job it’s important that you get as much feedback as you can. This is especially true with those jobs that you felt like you were perfect for and yet were still passed over. It can sometimes be hard to identify our own failings so getting some perspective helps. Keep in mind that the feedback should not be taken too personally. You might disagree with the opinion of an interviewer, but they aren’t your enemy out to get you. Try to see it from their perspective and understand how they arrived at that opinion. Even if they insist you were qualified for the job and were simply edged out by another candidate, find out what those deciding factors were and how you can improve in those areas. This is all valuable information for next time.
Clear your head.
Once you’ve gotten your feedback, analyzed (but not over-analyzed) the situation, it’s time to put it behind you. This particular opportunity is behind you so that is where it should stay. No more thinking through the ‘what ifs’ and kicking yourself for not doing something differently. You need to start fresh on the next opportunity and to do that you must refocus your attention. Find a way to clear your head of that experience. For me, going for a walk helps a lot to get my mind in the right space to start again. Dwelling on it only serves to waste your time.
Stay positive.
Whenever faced with a setback like this, these words can be a bit frustrating. If only it was as easy as that to stay positive after such a negative experience. But while it might not be easy, it’s necessary. Staying positive allows you to continue on with your work and make sure that next opportunity works out the way you want. First, it helps to get some perspective. Realize that even though this is personally devastating to you, it’s something that many people face. It is a setback, not a roadblock. You can get beyond this and still achieve what you want. It’s much easier to surrender to negativity and give up. That’s all the easy path will get you.
Stick to the game plan.
When you lose out on that job, consider this; nothing has changed. How is this any different than if you hadn’t found that job in the first place? You are just continuing on with you job hunt a little wiser. Before this opportunity your goal was to get a job – the goal remains the same. Get right back into your routine of your job hunt. Talk to your network about anymore opportunities out there. Volunteer in related areas to keep your skills sharp and make new connections. Stay active, eat healthy and sleep well. Life goes on and so should you.