If you’re applying for a new job, you’ll likely experience at least one rejection during the search process. Whilst being turned down for a role is never a good feeling, there are some ways to use this positively. The rejection could help you perform better in your next application and interview, hopefully resulting in a positive outcome.
See What You Can Learn
Instead of chalking it up to bad luck or something similar, why not see if there’s something you can learn from the disappointment. Think back on the whole recruitment process and try to determine whether you could have done anything better or differently. Consider whether you were as prepared for the interview(s) as you possibly could have been or whether you could have done more preparation work. Did you answer all the questions as well as possible, or could your interview skills do with some sharpening up?
Taking the time to identify areas for improvement will help your interview skills for the future. This could mean that the next time you find a role you love the sound of, it’s more likely that you could be offered the job.
Request Feedback
When you hear you haven’t been offered a position, one of the key things you can do is ask for detailed feedback from your interview. The interviewer may provide you with some things you could improve upon that you would have never even considered yourself. Self-analysis can be tricky, so getting analysis from a third party can help give you some actionable insight for the next job opportunity.
Create A Plan
Once you’ve carried out self-analysis and have received feedback from the recruitment process, you can put together a self-development plan to help you be a stronger and more attractive candidate in future.
Put the weaker areas of your interview process on paper, and from there, you’ll be able to identify what your development priorities should be. You may need to undertake some training, coaching, or mentorship to help you develop and progress.
Learn Resilience
No matter how good a candidate you are, you will experience rejection throughout your career for many different reasons. It may be that you’re not a good fit for some jobs or companies, you may be over or underqualified for specific roles, and so much more.
When it comes to rejection, learning to accept it and use it as fuel for progression, learning, and development is vital. Throughout your career, setbacks and disappointments are inevitable, so being able to see these as formative experiences that can help get you ready for the next application/interview will serve you far better than becoming discouraged and unmotivated in future.
If you’re currently searching for your perfect new role, the team at St David Recruitment Services are here to help. Give us a call on 02920 797 920 to see if we can match you with your ideal job.