So, you didn’t get that job…

What now?Here is an easy guide

to making the most out of your job rejection.

You’ve spent hours writing a job application and getting prepared for your interview. You dressed in your best clothes and thought you nailed the interview, but you were still rejected.

Why?

Why oh why?No matter how perfect a fit you are for a job or how well you do in an interview, you are never going to get every job you apply for. It’s nothing personal – it’s business!

Sometimes it will be because someone internally had the competitive advantage, they already knew the boss, or the interviewer felt the other candidate would be a better fit. These are things you have no control over and there is nothing you could have done to change the outcome.

Sometimes it will be the case that someone with more experience or industry knowledge gets the position. Sometimes you won’t get the job because you weren’t prepared enough or you simply don’t have the skills required.

Only one person can get the job and often there will be hundreds of people applying for the same position. While you may not have been successful this time, you can learn from the experience and move forward.

Don’t take it personallyYou may experience many rejections in your career before you receive a job offer. Don’t take it personally. Rejection is not a reflection of your self-worth – it’s a normal part of the job-hunting process.

It’s okay to feel disappointed and frustrated. Vent your frustrations (briefly) to trusted family or friends but don’t ever vent on social media.

The best advice is to keep positive and congratulate yourself on your past successes. It’s how you dust yourself off and move on to the next job application that matters. You never know what amazing job is just around the corner.

‘A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the

pursuit of success.’– Bo Bennett, author Year to Success.

Learn from itSo you didn’t get the job – learn from and use this experience and use it to your advantage in future applications.

One way to learn is to ask for feedback to help you improve. Not all employers and recruiters will provide feedback, but it’s worth asking the question to find out what they were looking for and why you didn’t make it.

Feedback is designed to help you, not to criticise you, so be aware of your reaction to it and don’t get defensive or upset.

Make sure you’re choosing the jobs that best fit your skill level, as no one is going to give you a job as a manager if you’ve just finished an undergrad degree and have limited work history. Also, make sure you’re truly interested in the job and the company you apply to, as you can’t fake passion.

EvaluateThink about what you wrote in your application and resume – did you answer the questions to the best of your ability and was it tailored to the job you were applying for?

Evaluate your interview if you had one. Did you do enough preparation and research? Were you well presented and were you honest in your answers? Everyone can find room to improve, so work out what you can do better next time.

Most importantly, don’t over-analyse it. There are a lot of factors involved when it comes to making the hiring decision that you won’t know about and that you might not be able to overcome.

Get some adviceTalk to the experts and gain their unbiased advice to help you with your future applications. USQ’s Career Development team at Student Services are the perfect people to contact for career support and advice. You can talk with them at your preferred campus in-person, over the phone or via email. This service is available up to 12 months after you graduate.

It’s also a good idea to talk to people you trust. Whether it’s a family member, friend, mentor or colleague, tell them about your experience and ask for their ideas as to how you can improve next time around.

Take actionYour confidence might have taken a hit but it’s time to pick yourself up, take some positive action and move on.

If you find you’re not making it to the interview stage, you may need to improve your application or review what jobs you’re applying for. If you’re getting an interview but not a job, do some work on your interview techniques and company research.

Be realistic when setting yourself a timeframe to get a job. Keep your spirits high and if it’s taking longer than you thought and you’re currently unemployed, use your skills for good and volunteer. It should give you a confidence boost and will look great on your resume!

TIP: There are countless resources on the internet to help you improve your job applications, resumes and interview techniques. Check out the following:

» Top 5 interview tips » How to nail that job interview » Career quick tip series

» Rebecca: What every graduate needs to know before they graduate

» Your resume recipe

CRICOS: QLD00244B NSW02225M TEQSA: PRV12081 29.4.2 11.2015 Images © Shutterstock

social.usq.edu.au

So what now?Time to pick yourself back up and keep going strong. Keep your mind open, stay positive and be willing to learn from your experiences. You will get a great job.