When you apply for a job at your dream company, you’re hoping, maybe even praying, that you’ll be successful in the interview process and receive an offer. After all, it’s the company you’ve always wanted to work for. So when you don’t get an offer, it can feel devastating — but it doesn’t have to. Here’s why rejection happens and how you can learn from it to position yourself for success in future interviews.
Job Rejection Doesn’t Have to Sting
It’s natural to feel disappointed. Here’s how to move forward and position yourself for success.
October 24, 2022
Hill Street Studios/Getty Images
Summary.
The second you receive the rejection phone call or email from your dream company, you immediately try to figure out why. But the answer may be elusive, especially if the person on the other end doesn’t give you much information to go on. The author presents several possible reasons you didn’t get the job, plus five ways to learn from the rejection to position yourself for success in future interviews. First, take time in advance to think through deep questions that will give you a more realistic view of a prospective employer. Second, reflect on the job you didn’t get and whether it truly aligned with your values. Third, sharpen your interviewing skills by thinking back to the questions you were asked and how your counterpart reacted to your answers. Fourth, see if you can get feedback from your interviewer. Finally, to develop resilience, figure out what kind of self-care you need to heal after rejection.