How to handle a rejection after an interview?

Kamelia Dimitrova

24/10/2023

Everyone at least once in their life is faced with the rejection of an employer after an interview, regardless of the gained experience and skills. The feeling of disappointment is the first alert at such a moment, but it is crucial to shake it off very quickly and turn it into a motivator. In theory, it sounds very simple and logical, but in practice, it is quite difficult.

That's why we have prepared a shortlist of tips to help you regain your confidence and rediscover a passion for professional change. Let's begin:

1. Do a self-analysis

Think about everything that happened - from the way you prepared and researched for the interview, to the communication during the call and all the follow-up. If the process has taken place in stages, determine where there is room for improvement. Ask yourself: What could I have done differently? Could the presentation be better? Could I answer some of the questions more in-depth? Did I focus too much on technical competence at the expense of demonstrating my soft skills? Were there any questions I could answer better?

There is always room for improvement, so use all failures to shed light on these areas!

2. Ask for feedback

‍To understand why you were not the right person for the role, you can also turn to the selection consultant you worked with. Keep in mind that this is a delicate issue, both for you and for HR, who has worked towards "closing" the position. Also, to receive this answer, the consultant often needs to hear the point of view of the other participants in the selection - for example, the line manager or the owner of the company you have met. Therefore, do not insist on a quick answer, but ask for information to succeed in the next application. This is much more valuable than the time you can get an answer.

3. Look for common ground

After the received feedback from the recruiter, it is time for you to think about if there are any weaknesses that your friends & colleagues see as well. If there is a common opinion, you need to work towards improvement!Think about what you can do to correct gaps in your performance? Depending on the problem, you can go through training or practice with a friend. Given the use of technology it is extremely common, people to face problems when expressing ourselves well.

4. Be objective

Sometimes the job rejection is based on things that can't be changed overnight!If the interviewer prefers someone with extensive experience in managing clients or teams (and you don't have it) or wants someone who speaks a perfect foreign language (and you're not fluent). In this case, you should focus on the things you can change in your professional situation.

5. Build resilience

In today's fast-changing workplace, as technology accelerates and companies transform with each passing hour, the development of sustainability thinking is essential for long-term success. Look at every failure as an obstacle in the way of the right job for you that will satisfy you!After all, quitting happens to everyone, the most important thing is what we learn from experience. It sounds cliché, but it's a fact that even innovators and out-of-frame thinkers like Jev Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg have been turned down.