As a fresh graduate, facing rejection in your job search can really take the wind out of your sails. Hearing “no thanks” or getting ghosted over and over again by employers can quickly sap your motivation when you’re eager to launch your career. Or worse, leave you wondering if there’s something wrong with you.
Still, don’t let the sting of rejection keep you down. You should give yourself space to sit with the feeling and let it run its course, yes. But you can also channel it into a renewed call to action. With the right mindset, you can uncover valuable lessons in rejection to help you improve and find future success. Here are some tips on how you can do that!
Take a Step Back to Identify Potential Weaknesses
First, it’s important to take a step back to objectively reflect on potential reasons why you’ve been rejected. Analyse your job search process to spot any shortcomings that may be hindering your success.
For example, take another look at your CV and LinkedIn profile. Do they compellingly convey your most relevant skills, achievements, credentials, and qualifications? Or during the interview, did you effectively demonstrate how your background directly applies to the roles you’re applying for?
Here are some helpful questions for you to consider:
- Does my CV clearly align what the company and the role needs?
- What could I have done better during the interview/assessment? Is there room for improvement?
- Does my past working experience seem competitive enough for the roles at my experience level?
- Am I applying for an appropriate job at my level, or am I reaching for roles that exceed my current experience and qualifications?
Rejection doesn’t necessarily mean you fundamentally lack potential or ability. Companies actually reject qualified candidates all the time for any number of reasons. However, taking time to reflect on potential weak spots demonstrates maturity, humility, and a readiness to improve – all of which are good habits to cultivate for your career!
Get Feedback from Employers or Advisors
If possible, reach out to the employer and ask if there was a specific reason (or reasons) for your rejection. Not all employers may respond, but if they do, do your best to glean what you can from their feedback and thank them for their time.
Next, try getting additional feedback from professionals in your field who know your background and goals well (e.g. career counsellors), or other employed contacts like former internship supervisors or colleagues, or your peers and mentors. Get their help vetting your application to find areas you could improve on the next time.
It’s important not to get defensive in the face of feedback, but listen with an open mind. Outside perspectives can offer valuable insight on growth areas you may be blind to on your own. Granted, not everything you hear may be useful, but focus on critiques that seem particularly fair and constructive.
Also, step back a bit to look at the big picture. Looking across all the feedback you’ve gotten, do any patterns emerge which identify strengths you should focus on building?
Consider Upgrading Your Skills
If you managed to identify some key skills or knowledge gaps (whether on your own or from external feedback), you may need to level up your skillset before your next application. Find relevant training opportunities, online courses, workshops, or other available resources and just go for it!
Lifelong learning is a critically important skill that will carry you through your career, so make use of this opportunity to cultivate that habit. This could be through formal methods such as enrolling in online courses to expand your technical abilities, or informal means such as reading more widely on current industry trends or finding a new mentor who excels in skills you need to develop.
That said, don’t forget to revisit the basics as well! This is a good time to reexamine the things you think you already know to ensure that your fundamentals are strong. See if there are ways you can improve on how you convey core concepts for your chosen field. That could make the difference in your next application bid.
Broaden the Types of Jobs and Companies You Apply To
If you’re getting rejected repeatedly, then you may want to consider if you’re aiming too narrow in your job search. Consider broadening your search to explore adjacent roles, companies, or industries where you can still genuinely use your core strengths and skills, even if they are not a perfect fit with your original vision.
For example, if you haven’t had much luck applying for marketing roles, you could consider other areas like business development, project coordination, human resources, or supply chain management as well. All of these require similar transferable skills as marketing roles do, meaning you’ll still get to leverage off your core strengths.
Most graduates these days typically don’t end up working in the same field as their degree. Expand your options a little, and you might just find another field that interests you more than the one you initially wanted. You never know where your journey will take you!
Make Time for Self-Care
Let’s be honest: rejection takes a toll on anyone’s self-esteem. It’s important to combat the psychological effects by giving yourself space to rest and reaffirm your self-worth, values and strengths.
If needed, step back from the job search a bit and give yourself a few days off. Make lists of your proudest past accomplishments and unique strengths that set you apart. Go spend time with friends who have your back and believe in your potential. Re-read past praise, positive feedback, and compliments from others.
Remember that the job search and your career is just one aspect of your life. It doesn’t dictate the entirety of who you are. Make time for your hobbies, for social connections, for exercise, and prioritise a healthy, balanced, and mindful lifestyle where you can. All of these things will in turn make you a more well-rounded and desirable candidate that people enjoy having around in the long run.
Stay Persistent
Remember, the path to career success very rarely follows a straight line from college to dream job. Expect twists and turns, and milestones that take time and effort to achieve.
Turn each rejection into a learning experience and it will fuel you, not deter you. Most importantly, maintain faith in your own growth journey. The right opportunity for you will show up at the right time, so long as you keep doing the right things.
