How To Stay Motivated After Job Rejection

Job rejection is incredibly common, but it can still sting when you’ve been trying your best and putting a lot of work into preparation. It’s tough to read a rejection email after weeks of interviewing for a specific position, meeting the team, talking about why you want to work there, and envisioning your new daily schedule. How do you keep yourself from becoming discouraged?

Many Job Seekers Experience Rejection Before Landing the Perfect Role

About 75% of resumes are rejected before they even reach the hiring manager because they don’t get past applicant tracking systems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average job search lasts around five months. However, the median job search takes about nine and a half weeks, so about half of job seekers find opportunities in a shorter timeframe.

Thousands of people can apply to a single position, so you’re up against a great deal of competition. But don’t lose hope! If you’re going through a discouraging patch in your job search, stay the course. You’re going to find the right role even if it takes some time.

How to Handle Getting Rejected from a Job

Honestly Assess the Role

Usually, when a job doesn’t work out, there is a reason. Maybe it was a skill set mismatch or culture misalignment. Maybe there was a superstar candidate that any company would want to snap up – and it’s hard to compete with that! A hiring manager has a different perspective from you, so they can accurately assess if you’ll be a good fit for the company, team, and environment.

Whatever the reason, you don’t want to accept a job that’s not the right fit. Doing so can lead to job dissatisfaction, second-guessing your career, and even burned bridges if you leave a company quickly. Stay motivated by remembering that there is probably a reason why you didn’t get this specific role, but it’s for the best if you weren’t a good fit.

Stay in Contact

If you are rejected for a role at a company you really love, then it’s a great idea to stay in contact with the hiring manager, HR, Talent Acquisition, or other team members you met during the interview process. If a more suitable role opens up, you will have the benefit of familiarity with the company as well as those team members.

Even if you don’t end up working at that company after a job rejection, you may find another opportunity through networking. Roughly 60% of new roles are found that way, so the odds are in your favor!

The people you meet while interviewing for various roles can become valuable contacts for the future. You can stay motivated after job rejection by realizing you still made valuable new connections in your field. You also had the opportunity to polish up your interview skills, tighten up your answers, and learn what different companies are working on and skills they want in an IT candidate. One day, you just might have one of those contacts recommend you to another promising job.

Ask for Feedback After a Job Rejection

While it might feel scary, asking for feedback after a job rejection is one of the clearest ways to get motivated again and refine your approach. Hiring managers can potentially give you great advice or shine a light on the part of the interview that made them decide you weren’t a fit for the role.

As for how to ask for feedback after a job rejection? Simply email the company thanking them for the chance to interview and say, “As I’m always looking to improve, is there anything I could have done differently, highlighted more about my experience, or answered better?” Being open to receiving constructive feedback will help you improve for your next interview.

There are many reasons why a hiring manager may have rejected you. Maybe some of your examples missed the mark, or you didn’t really detail previous work experience in a way that connected to the current role. Maybe it wasn’t you at all, but rather a candidate with more experience, etc. Either way, feedback is key in working through a disappointing job rejection, and many recruiting or hiring managers are happy to provide critiques.

Work With a Recruiter to Find More Opportunities

Working with an IT recruiter is one of the fastest ways to stay motivated after job rejection and quickly find an ideal role. First, a trusted Talent Solutions partner can work with you to polish your resume and optimize it for applicant tracking systems. For specific positions, they can advise on projects, skills, and certifications to leave on or off and help you tailor your resume to different job postings and hiring managers.

IT recruiters have hundreds of open jobs on their radar, searching for the perfect fit for their clients. They can send your resume to the front of the line for dozens of roles and connect you directly with the hiring managers, saving you time.

Also, recruiters have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to interviews. Your recruiter is invested in making sure you’re well-prepped and prepared for your interview. They may help with mock interviews, critiques, tips, and more.

Lastly, IT recruiters can keep your resume on file indefinitely for any future roles where you might be a match. If you’re only relying on submitting your resume to various job listings, it can take a long time to find the job you want. Work with a recruiter and you can have the jobs come to you instead of seeking them out.

Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Career?

If it’s time make some changes, check out our open tech job opportunities and apply today! Our team of experienced IT recruiters can help you find the right contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire job options.