So You Got Another Job Rejection

Does This Sound Familiar To You….

1.

Thank you for sending your resume applying for the advertised position of Sales Representative.
We are writing to advise you that unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful in this instance.
While at this time we are not able to assist you in your job search, we would like to thank you for your interest in our site and for taking the time to submit your application.
Please accept our best wishes for the future and should you see another position on our website, we would welcome your application.
Yours sincerely,

2.

Many thanks for your interest in xxxxxxx and our Account Manager role based in Christchurch.
The calibre of applications received was very impressive and although your CV is a credit to you, I regret to advise you that your application for this role has been unsuccessful.
I wish you the very best of luck in your search for a role that best suits your skills and experience.
Once again, thank you for your interest in Eurowine.
Best Regards,
If this does sound familiar then you are not alone. When you get several of these a day for a limited job market I bet it makes your heart sink. Here are some useful tips that I have looked into and I think they will help anyone in this situation.
Put rejection in perspective
To begin with, try not to take rejection personally.  That’s easier said than done, of course; but it’s important psychologically and emotionally to distance yourself from whatever dampens your spirits and hinders your efforts.
“Always look at more than one job opportunity at a time.  There will always be a job you will consider as your ‘first choice,’ but you won’t feel the rejection as badly when you have another one in the wings waiting,” advises Faye Koonce, an Atlanta-based contract corporate recruiter who has recruited for major Fortune 500 companies and prominent healthcare organizations.
“Everyone wants to feel wanted, and keeping your options open will also give you the opportunity to put matters in perspective.  This enables you to maintain a positive attitude in dealing with the outcome regarding the next position that becomes available for you,” she adds.
There’s something else very important to keep in mind:  Employers do not need any particular reason not to hire someone.  Rather, they need a good reason to extend an offer to the individual selected for the opportunity.  Simply put, employers are not required to justify to any candidate their rationale for selecting someone else.
Secondly, consider the level of competition involved in job hunting among collegians.  Each year tens of thousands of bright and ambitious college graduates enter the job market.  Regardless of their major, they all seek well-paying positions with the nation’s top employers.  However, there is a limited availability of coveted, career-enhancing positions.
The ratio of candidates for “plum” positions with top-tier corporations can easily be 200 to one.  Do the math.  Even if all candidates are similarly qualified and interview equally impressively, 199 of them will not get an offer.  That does not mean that they lack promise and potential as candidates worthy of serious hiring consideration.  It simply means that the hiring nod doesn’t go in their direction.
If you happen to be one of the unsuccessful candidates, don’t despair.  The reality of the job market is that it may take as many as 15-20 job interviews in order to land an acceptable employment offer.  Until that occurs, what’s important is to put the matter in perspective and focus on selling yourself confidently in future interviews.

Draw strength from supportive people

Experiencing a long job search is like riding an emotional roller coaster.  You are “up” one day when things are going well and it seems that you are close to landing an ideal spot with a great company – and “down” the next day when your search efforts seem stymied or you get another rejection letter.
To buffer the negative effects of unsuccessful job hunting, it’s helpful to have a support group to draw strength from during difficult times.  By all means, take full advantage of career workshops offered by college placement officials. Not only can they help you fine-tune your job-hunting skills; they can offer uplifting words of encouragement that build up your self-esteem, which is critically important for projecting a “winning” attitude.
Does your dormitory resident advisor periodically schedule “rap sessions” that focus on job hunting?  Such group conversations are particularly helpful when they include success stories by current students or recent alums who have obtained enviable positions with sought-after employers.  The positive vibes generated can buoy your spirits and motivate you to “keep on keeping on” in pursuit of your immediate career goal.
Do you have a trusted mentor to turn to for guidance and inspiration?  If so, take full advantage of his or her insights on job hunting, actual employment leads and motivational guidance.  It pays to give close ear to someone who has “been there and done that”’ in getting established with a premier organization.
And by all means, don’t forget family and close friends.  Whether they are nearby or geographically distant, they can offer valuable support during moments of discouragement.  Just to know that they are “in your corner” is comforting and reassuring whenever you experience setbacks in your search.