5 Things to do when you're turned down for a job

BLOGS

January 08, 2020

CATEGORY : Career Hacks

Rejection, whether it’s romantic or favours isn’t easy to take. In fact, it feels the same as physical pain. Scientists put participants under MRI and asked the people to recall their recent rejection experiences. They discovered a remarkable result - the rejection activated the same areas of the brain when under physical pain.

When you’re turned down for a job, it can impact your self-esteem, self-worth and motivation. The good news - those negativities only exist in your mind and you can do things to lessen their impact on your will to succeed. A job may or might not for everyone and not all can be accepted.

These are some of the common fears of job hunting.

• Embarrassment
• Failing the interview
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of not landing the job you’re looking for
• Fear of change

1. Make a plan B or a contingency plan

Plan B means a second option that can serve as your second opportunity in case things go wrong. It’s likely that you can get two or more interviews when you send multiple applications using a laser technique versus a shotgun technique (sending to specific applications versus sending to unrelated applications).

You can either squeeze two interviews in one day (if they are short and within the same area) or reserve one interview in the following day unless that interview is very urgent - therefore making it a priority. Likewise, don’t put all eggs in one basket. Expand your opportunities and choices by using an effective job search because concentrating all your hopes in one vacancy could be devastating if you fail compared to a situation when you knew that you have 4 or more interviews waiting in your calendar plan.

Sources of plan Bs

Personal networks from friends, ex-coworkers, co-applicants, and family
Trade associations
Government agencies
Public Employment Service Office by DOLE
Part-time jobs to cover your expenses while job hunting

2. Ask for feedback

Thank the interviewer or hiring manager for inviting and giving an opportunity. You can stand out among the applicants because few candidates send a thank you verbally or even a thank you letter to the human resources. Sending a thank you letter means you increase your visibility among seekers.

Ask the interviewer for feedback as it can give you info where you failed and what to do with it. Some companies give e-books or guides for the specific skill so that when you apply next time, you’re more ready. Others will give feedback right away along with the rejection letter. On the other hand, some won’t provide feedback. More companies are looking to the database/records of rejected applicants and try to call them after a few months or year. They could ask if you’re still interested in or looking for a job.

Thank the interviewer
Give them a choice of providing feedback without a demanding tone such as “If you have feedback for me, I’d love to know and use it to improve and make myself a strong candidate.”

3. Analyze what you can and can’t control

Knowing the things you can and can’t control in your job quest, can help you become more objective and easily handle job rejections.

Things you can control	Things you can’t control
Your perseverance and efforts to make networks	Being turned down because of someone inside the company or organization favoured the other candidate who happens to be a relative or close friend of that employee/hiring personnel.
Your reaction and how you market your transferable skills. Job hunting efforts	Job market and trends
Your preparation and performance and for an interview	Job competition
Professional behaviour in all situations	Unprofessional employer and interviewer

4. Avoid myths that can hinder your job application

Believing or practising these myths can reduce your chances of getting a job.

Apply to vacancies as many as possible - Blasting resumes to numerous recruiters and vacancies as many as possible could lead to multiple interviews and email replies but such 'shotgun' approach can sacrifice quality applications. You might waste your time and resources attending to job opportunities that you don't like. And they would end up in ignored folder of recruiter's email.
You don’t need cover/application letter - While employers read straight to your resume, cover letters communicate your intention to apply.
One resume fits for all - Not every resume are made equal. A specific resume tailored to a specific qualification can help you get closer to your job.
Follow up means nagging - Without follow-ups, you can lose chances of being hired or getting a job in the near future. There are hundreds of applicants vying for that position. Send a sweet and short thank you letter to express your interest and gratitude for the opportunity.
No one can find my online activities - The sense of privacy and anonymity can make up for the sense of overconfidence in social media posting. But anything you post online can be noticed on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn streams. What you post could influence the hiring personnel’s decision.

5. Strengthen your confidence

Confidence, according to Psychology today, is the state of being when you believe in your ability to meet challenges or the unknown during the course of action of your choosing. Build your confidence by identifying issues and taking actions.

Issues	Action
Anxiety before a job interview	Breathe and exhale to reduce anxiety. Use these breathing exercises. Prepare for the interview by researching the job and the company, researching the right answers for interview questions. Imagine that you are a known public speaker or a politician that uses hand gestures.
Anxiety during an interview	Use appropriate gestures while explaining or remembering. Using hand gestures can help you express your ideas, thoughts and decrease your anxiety levels. Rest your clasped hands in your lap to avoid subconscious squirming and hair twirling. Speak slowly since rapid and hurried speaking is a sign of nervousness. Pause between topic or the during course of speaking. This can help you avoid veering off the topic.
Unsure about the dress code	Clarify the dress code to the company or interviewer. Most or all sales, marketing and hospitality industry require a strict dress code (long sleeves, slacks, suits, ties) while some information technology companies are quite lax on their dress code.
Unsure about the knowledge of the company	Research the company
Negative self-talk	Use self-affirmations that are a list of sentences meant to be repeated and reread daily. Once you got used to saying the self-affirmations, your brain will unconsciously believe them. Here’s an awesome list of self-affirmations.