Getting rejected following an interview is always difficult to deal with. Especially if it’s for a job you felt suited you perfectly. The odds of getting rejected are pretty high considering employers tend to interview far more candidates than they have vacancies to fill, so most of us have to deal with job rejection at some point in our lives. It’s how you deal with it that matters.
Take stock
It might not feel easy at first but you need to understand why you were not selected for the job. Check the job description and person specification again. Can you see areas that might have made you a weaker match than you first thought?
Try contacting the employer for feedback. Some employers don’t encourage or welcome this but the good ones do, so it’s worth trying. If you make it clear you’re looking for honest, constructive feedback this kind of information is invaluable.
It might have been that it was thought you were not the best fit for the team or company. This kind of feedback is not bad because it may mean you were a good candidate for the role and the feedback can help you understand the type of company you should be targeting in future.
Whatever the reason for you not getting the job, feedback can help you plot a route to improve your career prospects going forward.
The interview
Think about the interview itself. Were you too confident, nervous, unprepared, too prepared? You should always be prepared but you can be too prepared if you have memorised stock answers to questions. Interview questions may seem similar but responses should be tailored to the company and specific role. If you were asked competency based or strength based questions, were you prepared?
If you were too confident or nervous, practice is the best course of action. If you can remember some of the questions you were asked or come up with a few typical examples you could ask a friend or family member to role play. The more you practice the better you’ll perform next time.
Also think about how you came across during the interview. Were you delayed because of transport issues or did you get caught in the rain and so arrived a little flustered and untidy. The interviewers may be influenced by first impressions. If you’re late the reason, however justified, doesn’t change the negative impression you created as a result. Leaving enough time for the unexpected to ensure you arrive at the interview calm and on time is always a good idea.
Research
Did you research the job and company before the interview? Not just their website but social media accounts also. Whether it’s the company’s own account or those of members of staff, social media can provide useful insights in to the company culture and the kind of person who would suit working there.
Get back out there
Once you’ve taken stock and addressed any weaknesses that led to the job rejection it’s time to try again. Job hunting can be tiring but it has to be done if you want to get the job you deserve.
Start by checking over your CV/Resume. Make sure it’s up to date and up to standard. If you are applying to a large employer they may well use algorithms to filter CVs/Resumes, so make sure yours is optimised for ATS. You’ll need to tailor this for every job application if you want to stand out from the crowd.
Apart from online job boards, company websites and recruitment agencies you should access the hidden job market. This refers to jobs advertised informally. Today that includes social media but if you feel able to network by attending seminars and training events within your industry it would be useful.
And finally…
Its normal to be rejected following a job interview. Far more people will experience job rejection than not so don’t let it get you down if it happens to you. It’s far more important to stay positive and take whatever you can from the experience so you can ensure you’re successful in the future.