Job interviews are seen as opportunities to showcase your skills, experiences and passions for a role which could ultimately lead to a new career path and exciting future. However, they also come with the possibility of job rejection.
Facing job interview rejection can be disheartening and shake your confidence. It’s important to remember that job rejection doesn’t define your abilities or worth though. Instead, if can present a chance for growth and redirection in your career.
How to Deal With Job Interview Rejection
Acknowledge & Embrace Emotions
From disappointment to frustration, receiving a job rejection can bring a variety of emotions. It’s essential to acknowledge these feelings and process them; allow yourself to feel the disappointment but try not to dwell on it too much.
Take a moment to reflect on the experience and use it as a learning journey. Setbacks are part of your professional journey and it’s only a bump in the road.
Seek Constructive Feedback
After these initial feelings have passed, consider reaching out to the interviewer or hiring manager for feedback. Constructive feedback can help you understand the areas you may need to work on for future interviews.
Politely inquire about areas of improvement and what factors influenced their final decision to help you gain a clearer picture. Use these answers as a guide for self-development and prepare yourself for the next interview opportunity.
Maintain a Positive Mindset
As mentioned above, always remind yourself that rejection may not be a reflection of your capabilities, but maybe a mismatch between your skills and the specific role requirements or company culture.
It’s vital that you stay optimistic and focused on your long-term goals. This setback could be the right motivation to refine your skills, update your CV and continue networking within the industry to find a role better suited to you.
Learn, Adapt & Evolve
Job interviews should also be seen as opportunities to learn and grow, regardless of the outcome. Embark on a little self-evaluation and identify if there were any questions you struggled with that you could work on or any areas you excelled in.
Use this insight for future interviews and, if you’re still struggling to build confidence, consider trying interview role play to help you.
Stay resilient and remember that many successful professional probably faced multiple rejections before landing their dream jobs! Use each setback as a stepping stone towards your end goal and don’t give up.