Job rejection evokes a strong, negative emotional response. After all, you do not want to feel that you did not make the cut. Job rejections are part of nearly every job hunt and are often unrelated to anything you did during the hiring process. For example, positions are filled internally or cut for financial reasons. In some instances, a rejection might even be a blessing in disguise.
The number one good reason why you do not get a particular job offer is that you could be a poor fit for the prospective company's culture. Even if you have all the skills and prerequisites that the position demands, if you do not mesh well with the other team members and the typical job process and environment, you are better off finding a position elsewhere. Seasoned hiring managers use their intuition about the compatibility between applicants and the company culture to select from a pool of candidates who are equally qualified for the position in other ways. Receiving a job rejection because of a poor fit allows you to move on to other companies where you are more likely to be happier on the job.
Another good reason behind some job rejections is a long-term lack of potential in the position. Most job interviews include questions about your long-term career goals. If your career goals do not mesh well with the company's ideas about the potential for the position, a job rejection is likely. Survive rejection in this case by appreciating that you are not stuck in a dead-end position and by embracing your continued search for a position with true potential. If a job does not lead you in the direction you want to go, that job rejection is a gift. You now have time to analyze your career goals and broaden your search for the best position to meet your future needs.
A third reason why it might be good to get a job rejection at the end of the interviewing process is that this particular process was more about learning than about getting a job. Each time you go through the application, interview, and follow-up procedure with a new organization, you learn more about your industry and more about yourself. This prepares you to pursue your dream job. A job rejection never signals hopelessness. Learn to survive rejection with an eye toward the lessons learned and return to your job search with greater determination and better capabilities, which lead to even more job opportunities. Job rejection also teaches the important life lesson of resilience.
A job rejection is not always a bad thing. Job rejections teach valuable skills to be used as you continue with your job searches. A job rejection helps you avoid jobs that are a bad fit and jobs with no long-term potential. Moving forward after a rejection with confidence and determination eventually leads to the right job for the long term.
(Photo courtesy of naypong / freedigitalphotos.net)
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!