by randy place
Your Career Service has stated many times that facing rejection is something you’ll experience more than acceptance during your search. What about handling interview rejection? Why not reject rejection. Sometimes rejected after an interview is the best thing that can happen to you. It provides the opportunity to continue your search until you find something better than the job that turned you down.
This is reason for not taking rejection personally. After all, it’s not your fault if a company decides to reject you and hire someone internally. Sound like a familiar refrain?
Besides, hiring decisions can be complex. Managers look for the right fit in terms of how your background matches a job’s requirements, cultural considerations, along with personal chemistry. “To quote honest Abe, “you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
Hiring manages are pickier these days because there are far more applicants than there are positions. Companies are more apt to find a candidate that fits the bill exactly today than they were in the good old days when recruiters called you.
The best way to reduce turndowns is to be picky, too. Instead of sending out lots of resumes, be selective to where you apply. While you can certainly be creative when responding to an ad or job posting, think targeting – target your skills and abilities to the job descriptions. If you don’t feel you’re a good match, move on to the next application.
You’ve heard the saying, “When someone hands you a lemon, turn it into a lemonade?” Next week’s post on Your Career Service will show you how to morph a rejection into an opportunity Stay tuned.
In the meantime, read this related article titled “Coping with rejection during your job search.”p–ok,
