Many of you may have received or seen a message like this during the job search :
“Thank you for your interest in (Name of Position). You were one of many impressive candidates who responded to our job posting. However, after careful consideration, we have narrowed the pool to applicants whose background and experience best match the requirements of the position. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your career pursuits.”
Many others may not have even received any version of the “courtesy rejection email” and instead have been left with radio silence… that’s ice cold. Your frustrations and feelings of doubt are valid, justified, and they can understandably lead to burnout.
Rejection doesn’t have to be the end of the road for your job search, though! Many see rejection as failure, but many also see failure as the best way to learn how to succeed. It’s important to keep your head up, stay focused, and head back to the drawing board. Here are some things to consider when rebounding off of a job application rejection:
- Do I need to practice my interview skills?
- Was my cover letter tailored to the job posting?
- Is my resume updated and properly formatted?
- Did I fill out the application to the best of my ability?
- Am I applying to jobs that I meet the minimum qualifications for?
Reflecting on your personal job application process can be very insightful. Your documents might need updating or certain skills may need to be honed. At the same time, your reflection should also go beyond yourself and towards the job market or industry as a whole. Some aspects of life are going to be outside of our direct control; industries can be competitive, businesses may not have the bandwidth to hire/contact multiple potential employees at a time, or other external factors might be playing into the hiring process.
It’s ok to recognize these variables and be frustrated, but be sure to refocus on the things you can control–like your own personal career development! The Career Services & Internships Office is available Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm to assist you with all your career-related inquiries, and you can schedule an appointment here. We know these processes can take time, but we’re here to help you each step of the way!
“You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth…” – Rocky Balboa
