 | « Back to article | Print this article |
10 tips to handle REJECTION at a job interview
One must use the time to build their skills and perform better in the next. Illustrations by Uttam Ghosh
Most of us have been rejected at one interview or the other.
This scenario is quite common among freshers as stepping into an environment of cut throat competition from the sheltered college life is not easy!
However getting rejected in a job interview is something which should be handled normally without exaggerating.
Here are a few tips on how you should deal with the rejection.
1. Never take it personally
A job interview is never a parameter of your value as a professional.
You were dropped only because your job application didn't match the specific job criteria. It may or may be related to how you performed during the job interview.
Remember even the best and the experienced candidates have faced rejection at some point of their lives.
It's important to stay calm, positive and motivated to become successful.
2. Search the job perfectly
It's no use hiding in your bed or to stop searching for jobs after being dropped in the first interview.
The better way to ward off the effects is to search smartly this time.
Not researching about the company, the required profile and skills are some of the common mistakes made by job seekers.
Further, researching about the company, its work culture and values can also be highly helpful in your job search.
3. Avoid needless anguish
Some jobs are worth fighting for, but dwelling on them needlessly is not!
Cutting contact with your friends or avoiding socialising with people will lead you nowhere.
So, get up and focus on your goal of finding the right job as opposed to the wrong one.
4. Don't beat a dead horse
Never seek explanation for the rejection directly.
It gives a negative feedback of you as a person.
Instead of asking directly why you were rejected, the better strategy is to seek guidance regarding the areas you should improve.
Also, it's a good idea to stay in touch with the interviewer for another job interview for a suitable position.
5. Look to the positive side
If you are a true optimist, you must believe in the adage that "everything happens for a reason" and this rejection is telling you to keep looking and moving forward.
Also analyse what went wrong and work on it so you can overcome these challenges in your next interview.
6. Focus on your strengths
It's easy to blame yourself and focus on your imperfections when faced with a job rejection.
Focus on what you're really good at, and what you're passionate about.
Don't beat yourself up for not being perfect.
7. Accept reality
Accept that rejections are a part of the job search.
Buttress yourself emotionally to handle the sadness that comes with rejection.
Know that rejection is going to happen repeatedly throughout our lifetime; accept rejection as a part of life.
8. Stretch yourself
Stretch beyond what you think your limits are.
Find a place in your life that you can "go to the edge" and be extreme.
Don't take life so seriously.
Do an activity you've never done before and you'll rejuvenate yourself.
This is where inspiration emerges from the creative places we go to when we get outside of ourselves and outside of our ruts.
9. Don't bring up the past
It's funny how failures have a way of drudging up all our past failures, as well as all the negative feelings associated with the failures.
It's as if our minds go into over-drive then our collective unconscious kicks in and we're on autopilot into the failures of our past.
Stay present; don't let the past take over.
10. You're not alone
Know that every day, countless others are sharing your experience.
Seek out others -- the mutual support and shared knowledge will be enormously helpful.
Contacts and job leads, as well as friendships and offers to share technical expertise with each other, result when connecting with others who are on a similar job search journey.