Looking through career’s pages on numerous websites, shortlisting roles, editing our CV to match our skills with the role description, typing out cover letters, filling out the application form. And then re-doing the process a hundred times over again. We have all been through it, at some point (or will do). Of these hundreds of applications, some may not respond, some go through the screening round and some through to the interview stage. But it is natural that not every job we apply to, will be a fit for us (or we for them). Rejection is a part of the job-hunting process. And a natural one, at that.
With the rise in technology, recruiting has turned, for the large part, online. Majority of the applications go through a tracking system, which automatically screens each CV for keywords mentioned in the particular job description. Some applicants face a rejection at the screening stage, while the successful ones move on to the recruiter. Mostly, after this, follows a couple of rounds of interviews (with the recruiter and a senior management or team leader). At each stage, only the successful candidates move forward, while the others are notified of their rejection.
If you have faced a rejection at any of these stages, then this article is meant for you. There are some steps you can take after a rejection.
If you’ve read this article so far, then you are in the right place.
So, let’s get right into it.
Steps to handle a job rejection
- Stay POSITIVE – First, understand that rejection does not decrease your worth in any way. It simply means that the match between you and the company just wasn’t right. Either they were looking for something else, or just that your set of skills or experience varies from their current needs. Accept the rejection as a part of the process. It is about a proper match (between your needs and the company’s provisions, and company’s needs and your skills), so you must keep trying.
- Ask for feedback – You cannot assess this by yourself. As a human tendency, you might just start assuming reasons that aren’t even true. So, ask the recruiter (and thus the company) for feedback. You put a lot of time and effort into each application, so you must ask for feedback, to ensure that you can better utilise the time spent on applications henceforth. For those who faced a rejection in the application stage, can use the feedbacks to improve the quality of their CV, showcasing the right skills for the right role description, along with highlighting the targeted keywords. For those who made it to an interview, but couldn’t nail it, ask for specific feedbacks. There may be something you can do about honing your soft skills or presenting techniques. You wouldn’t know until you ask.
- Review the feedback – Once you have received the feedback, it is time to use it to your advantage. Go through the entire process again, but in reverse. Start from the last stage and see how you can fix it. Then move to the previous stage and do the same. Repeat this till you reach the first stage of research. Also, make a note of those points where you did well. Don’t change what need not be changed. Rather, maintain it. This system of reviewing your application process in reverse, using the feedback, will show you the bigger picture. More often than not, candidates who ask for feedbacks, do not take advantage of it. So, get ahead of the competition by adopting this method.
- Refine your search criteria – Now it is time to re-evaluate your criteria for the job search. Feedbacks and reviewing the process, will have shown you gaps you need to fill (they could be skills, soft-skills, or keywords). Once you have filled these blanks and made the necessary changes, it is time to get specific. Just like companies know what they are looking for, you must, as well. It is time to play the probability game right. Find the job openings with a match for the keywords in your updated CV, and list them in a declining order of matching (with the highest match at the top). This increases your odds at getting through to the subsequent rounds.
- Keep moving – Stagnancy is not your friend. Do not feel dejected or stop applying. If you have taken the above steps, then you are on your way to improvement (which means you are already better than your last application). Embrace the process. It is completely fine to not find the match in one attempt. You have to become a little thick-skinned if you want to survive the competition. The best way is to keep learning, keep improving and keep moving ahead.
Conclusion
While many candidates read a rejection and never think about the company or the role again, remember that most companies have a certain period after which you may re-apply. If you are keen on a particular company, enhance your skills to match their mission, keep an eye on their fresh opening and re-apply after the gap period. Everyone appreciates candidates who show improvement and resilience.
Job hunting is not easy, but it should not be a sour experience either. Join groups or pages within your field. Ask for tips on how to skill-up or if the other members could help review your CV. You would be surprised to see how many people have been in similar situations and are willing to help.
Most importantly, do not give up. You WILL find the job you’re looking for.
What steps did you take to boost your chances with the next application? Let us know in the comments below.