Rejection sucks. No one wants to get rejected when they apply for a job, but it happens. The reality is you will be rejected way more than you will be the candidate chosen for the job. Rejection can be particularly hurtful if you are not chosen for a job you really want or for a job that you think you will get. It can feel like a punch in the gut.
Rather than dwell on it or feel sorry for yourself, you need to move on. Here Toronto recruiters outline a number of great strategies to handle job rejection like a pro:
1. It’s Okay to Feel Bad, But Only for a While
It’s natural to feel bad if you get rejected. This is perfectly natural. It’s also okay to feel bad for yourself, but only for a short time. Give yourself the day to feel bad, and then it’s time to move on. Tomorrow is a new day full of many other job opportunities.
2. Remind Yourself It’s Part of the Process
Getting rejected for a job is part of the job search process. You won’t get every job you apply for. You won’t even get a call back for some, and that is okay. If the company doesn’t view you as the right candidate, you likely don’t want to work for them either.
As Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss all the shots you don’t take.”
So, keep shooting!
3. Don’t Take It Personally
For almost any job you apply for, you won’t likely know who you are up against. A lot of the time, it’s not that you are not a great candidate, it’s just that a more qualified or experienced professional was also in the running. Try not to take it personally, even though it can be tough not to at times.
4. Say Thank You
Always be gracious in defeat. Make sure to send the hiring manager a thank you email. Even though you didn’t get this job, the right job with the company could become available in the future. Keep yourself in consideration by using the interview as an opportunity to build a relationship with the organization.
5. Talk to Your Mentor or a Career Coach
If you are having a difficult time breaking through and finding the right job or if you have been rejected numerous times, speak with someone. There may be something in your resume or your approach to interviews that is holding you back. An outside perspective can help you greatly.
More Career Search Tips From Toronto Recruiters
Are You Passing the Resume Skim Test? Most Candidates Don’t
Do Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile Match? They Should!
4 Tech Skills All Candidates Need on Their Resumes
IQ PARTNERS is an Executive Search & Recruitment firm supporting clients across the country. We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. We have specialist teams of recruiters in Executive Search / Board & C-Suite, Technology, Media, Digital & Marketing, Accounting & Finance, Financial Services & Insurance, Cannabis, Startup, Data Science, Consumer, eCommerce & Retail, Operations & HR, Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Engineering, Legal & Professional Services, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Non-Profit & Sustainability, and Sales. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto and operates internationally via Aravati Global Search Network. Click here to view current job openings and to register with us.
