Interviews
How to Prevent Rejection Knocking Your Confidence
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 28 May 2020
In recent months many people have unexpectedly found themselves on the search for a new job due to Covid-19.
The reality is that rejection is part of the process of finding a new job. Getting turned down for a job can be hard at normal times but even harder when your self-esteem may already be low following a lay-off.
To help you stay positive during your job search, here are some things to consider to prevent rejection knocking your confidence:
Accept that 'no' is part of the job-hunting process
It may come as a surprise to know that on average recruiters and hiring managers receive around 250 applications for each job they advertise. That's a lot of applicants! And, out of these 250 applications only between four to six people get selected for an interview. Looking at these figures you can see why you're going to get some knock-backs in your search for a new job.
Don't take rejection personally
Rejection of any type can be hard to take even if it's delivered with sincerity and care. And, if it feels like you're receiving rejection after rejection, it's easy to start seeing it as a personal attack. It's not!
There could be numerous reasons why you didn't get selected for an interview or you didn't get offered the job. Maybe the recruiter or hiring manager felt your skills or experience didn't match what they're looking for. Or, it could be they found a more qualified candidate.
Keep a positive mindset
Job-hunting is an emotional rollercoaster and it's pitted with moments of excitement and anticipation and also disappointment and anxiety.
These 'high' and 'low' moments can sway your motivation for finding a job. However, it's important to keep a clear head when applying for jobs. So, instead of bottling up your thoughts and emotions, sound out your feelings to family members, friends or a mentor. As well as being a great listening ear, they may also be able to offer advice on how to make your job search more successful.
While searching for a new job is important, if the pressure of it is starting to impact your mood or mental health you should take time to focus on things that give you joy.
Approaching job-hunting with a positive mindset will reflect in your results as employers are looking to hire people who show motivation and enthusiasm.
Related [ How To Ask Someone To Be Your Mentor ]
Ask for feedback
You may feel uncomfortable asking the recruiter or hiring manager for feedback, but understanding the reason (s) why you didn't get selected for an interview or why you didn't get offered the job will help massively when applying for other jobs.
Getting knocked back for interviews
If you keep on getting rejected for interviews for jobs that you know you can do, maybe it's not you but your CV that is letting you down.
Before applying for a job, make sure your CV accurately reflects your skills, experience and qualifications. Take time to look through the job description for the job you're applying for and see if your skills section and personal statement communicate your suitability for the job.
Ask the recruiter who is hiring for the job to review your CV to see if it can be improved - there's no guarantee they'll have the time to do it, but you've got nothing to lose by asking!
Related [ How To Write A CV ]
Getting rejected after interviewing
It's great news that you've got to the interview stage. This shows that your CV impressed the recruiter or hiring manager enough to invite you in for an interview. But, this is only the first stage in the hiring process.
If you're finding that after attending the interview (s) you're told that the job has been offered to someone else, you should find out why. Some recruiters and hiring managers will provide this feedback when informing you that you were unsuccessful in your application. If they're not forthcoming with a reason ask them to provide you with feedback, explaining to them it'll help you in the future.
A common reason for not getting offered the job is that you didn't perform well in the interview. Maybe you didn't answer the questions thoroughly or you wandered off-point, maybe you came across as nervous or even too confident, or it could be that you didn't research the company and it showed up in your answers.
Related [ 5 Types Of Interviews And How To Ace Them ]
Keep improving yourself
Given the current situation, there's going to be intense competition for jobs. To give yourself the best possible chance of landing a new job, ensure your current skills are still relevant to the jobs you're applying for or put time into updating your skills through volunteering or personal development.
If you're unsure what skills are sought after, speak to a recruiter who specializes in that sector, or search Glassdoor for open vacancies see what skills are listed on the job description.
Glassdoor Team
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Tags:COVID-19
