How To Handle Rejection The Right Way
The phone is ringing with that potential opportunity. That exciting dream jobs phone number flashing on your screen. You’re sweating and the tension is making your head spin. You’ve prepared, researched and rehearsed for weeks. You’ve imagined yourself in the job, you’ve even done a dummy run to the site, it’s yours, you’ve got this. Unfortunately, no you haven’t. You are the receiver of the dreaded rejection call. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Hurts doesn’t it?
You see, you can either politely put the phone down and carry on with your day, or you can argue, cry and argue some more. Which do you think is the best option? My advice don’t act like the screaming child that hasn’t got his its way. Be cool and take it on the chin, that way you’ll stick in their minds for the right reason. It really hurts your chance of being considered for future opportunities.
That ‘will they kick off if they don’t get it again?’ and ‘do I really want to talk to that person after how they spoke to me?’ seed has truly been planted.
Recruiters and hiring managers don’t like giving bad news. Everyone loves to be the person who makes someones day with a new job but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.
So how do you handle rejection the right way? Here’s how..
Say Thanks And Ask For Feedback
Keep your nerve, don’t sound too upset. Say a simple thank you and ask for feedback. This is going to help you when you look for other jobs, give you something to work on, take your mind off the rejection (sorry).
Don’t Criticise The Feedback
Listen to what they have to say and try not to take offence to it. They are making their judgement on a quick interview, they are not judging your whole life. It is a blow to take but fully processing the feedback may help you get that much wanted offer in the future. It takes a lot of character to take it and use feedback.
Don’t Turn It Into a Debate
They’ve made their minds up, they’re not going to budge, it is better to leave it. This is not your chance to give a speech about what a massive mistake they’re making and how great you are. Remember the screaming child? Accept it and move on.
Keep the connection
Finally, finish the call/email/voicemail with a note to say that you’d like to still be considered for future opportunities. You’re now the adult who they will more than likely want to speak to again.
There’s more than one job out there for you, life would be too easy if you got the job every time you went for an interview. We all know, life isn’t that nicely laid out and rejection is a part of it. Listen to it, learn from it and use it. You’ll be in that dream job in no time.
Take a look at our article on how to optimise your CV to improve your chances.
