These 4 Tips Will Help You Turn a Job Rejection into an Opportunity

Whether you’ve experienced it once or a hundred times, a job rejection always stings. It typically feels as if something ended before it genuinely had a chance to begin, leaving you disheartened, frustrated, and, potentially, confused.

While it may seem like there is little you can do after a job rejection, that isn’t the case. By using the right approach, you can actually convert the situation into an opportunity. If you are wondering how you can make the most of a job rejection, here are some tips that can help.

Respond Calmly

In some cases, you’ll be notified that you weren’t selected by phone or by email. In either case, you want to make sure you handle the situation professionally.

Above all, remain calm and collected. While airing your grievances may seem cathartic at the moment, an inappropriate response could do lasting harm to your reputation, preventing you from having access to other opportunities with that company later.

When you respond, focus on gratitude. Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration. That way, you’re on positive ground moving forward.

Request Feedback

After you’ve expressed your thanks, you can request feedback. In some cases, the hiring manager will be happy to share some insights about your performance or why another candidate received the offer.

If they do, accept the feedback graciously. Then, use the information to improve your performance moving forward, including identifying paths for making yourself a better candidate.

Keep the Door Open

Once you’ve received feedback, let the hiring manager know if you’d be interested in other opportunities with the company. In many cases, the hiring manager may question whether you’d be open to other options after a job rejection. By making it clear you’re interested, if a role comes along that’s a strong fit, they may reach out to you directly.

If you have a reasonable rapport, you could also ask if you could add them to your network. If they agree, that could also lead to new opportunities.

Continue Your Search

After a job rejection, it may be tempting to set your job search aside. While it’s okay to take a brief moment to process the event and recenter, dwelling could set you back.

A delay in returning to your job search could mean missing out on an exciting opportunity. Often, the best positions fill quickly, so you want to stay focused on the task at hand.

Take everything you’ve learned from the experience to identify points of improvement. Then, relaunch your search, keeping the lessons in mind as you move forward.

Ultimately, a job search often takes time, and a job rejection or two (or several) is usually a normal part of the journey. By learning from the experience and keeping the door open, but then pressing forward, you ensure you stay on target, increasing the odds that you’ll secure a right-fit position quickly.

If you’d like to learn more about effective job search techniques, the staff at The Squires Group can help. Contact us today.


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