So, that’s it. The interview is over. It could not have gone any better. You had great answers for all the questions. You had a fantastic rapport with your interviewers and you presented your professional background and experience with confidence. You leave the interview feeling great. You nailed it. All you have to do now is relax and wait for that call.
When the call you are expecting never happens and you learn that someone else got the job, it can be the most deflating and demotivating feeling. There are times when you just know you bombed an interview, but when you think you did really well and you still don’t clinch the role, it can send any jobseeker into a downward spiral. Here’s some advice from the CA team on handling job rejection in the right way and keeping the right mindset about it in order for you to pick yourself up and soldier on.
Don’t take it personally
One of the most important parts of handling a job rejection is to be as pragmatic about it as possible and not to take it personally. Just because you didn’t get the role, it doesn’t mean you were far off the mark. It is highly likely that the person who did get the role had another 2-3 years of experience under their belt and that is simply what tipped the scale. Remember, you are one of many people who interviewed for that role. You weren’t rejected outright, someone else was chosen over you. This is how interviews work, so if it’s going to knock you down every time you get rejected, you’re simply pushing yourself out of the game. Pick yourself up and get back in it.
Thank the interviewer(s)
Just as you would thank them for seeing you directly after the interview, you should thank them once again for having allowed you the opportunity to interview with them even when not successful in getting the role. A simple and short letter thanking them for their time and the opportunity and letting them know that you look forward to interviewing again in the future is a good way to stay on the radar and nurture the connection. Showing continued interest in the organisation keeps that door open and demonstrates that you are the kind of person who keeps going despite major setbacks – a fantastic quality.
Ask for feedback
Feedback is crucial when you’ve been unsuccessful in landing a job, especially when you thought you had it in the bag. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask the hiring manager for a rundown on what you were lacking that meant you weren’t considered right for the role. If you use a recruitment agency, they will already be on the case getting all of the useful feedback for you, so make sure you take some time to talk to your consultant.
Get introspective
Re-read the job spec and run through the interview in your mind again. Are you looking at the interview with rose-tinted glasses? You might find that by going back over it, you do see some areas where you fell a little short of the mark. The ability to self-evaluate is a useful one to have so take the opportunity to have a go at honing this skill.
Move along
Once you’ve sent the letters, introspected, gained feedback from the organisation or your recruitment consultant, move on. It’s now time to forget about the fact that you didn’t get that particular role and look forward to the next opportunity. Keep in mind the feedback you gained from the last interview and work on it. You can only improve.
Nobody would disagree that job rejections are hard, especially if you really believed that you were perfect for the role. How you handle the rejection will dictate how quickly you recover from it as well as how quickly you get that next interview lined up.