Like it or not, rejection is a fact of life, especially when it comes to your job search.
No matter how skilled or experienced you are, a rejection or two (or more) is inevitable. But there is an upside. The trick is to learn how to handle rejection, maintain a positive attitude and use that rejection to your advantage in your next opportunity.
When It's Not You
You had a great interview. Your skills are right on target. But you still didn't get the job. All you can ask is: Why?
Being passed over for a position may have nothing to do with you personally. For example, it's very possible that someone with a connection inside the hiring company got the job instead.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 48 percent of job seekers obtain their jobs through referrals, meaning they had an inside connection.
So start forging your own connections. Professional organizations, former colleagues, friends and online communities are all great places to enhance your network.
When It IS You
It's difficult to accept that the reason you were rejected for a job was because you lacked the right skills, needed more experience or fumbled during the interview.
But remember the term "constructive criticism" and seize this opportunity to analyze exactly why you didn't get the job. And then work to improve your chances next time.
Ask the interviewer how you could have increased your chances as a candidate. Take a class to build your skills or rework your resume to compensate for any perceived weaknesses. You can even ask a friend to practice with you to improve your interview skills.
Playing the Odds
In today's market, recruiters sometimes receive hundreds of resumes for a single position. So you need to find a way to make your resume stand out.
First, ask someone you trust -- or even a professional resume writer -- to critique your resume.
You should also respond to job ads as soon as possible, before the recruiter receives a pile of resumes. Then, a few days after you've sent your resume, follow up with a friendly phone call to the recruiter to increase your odds of getting an interview even more.
It's Not Personal. It's Business.
A job interview isn't a popularity contest. If an employer thinks you're the right person for the job, they'll let you know.
If you don't get an offer, don't take it personally. It doesn't mean that the interviewer didn't like you, or that they didn't think you had valuable skills. It just means that someone else was a better fit.
Keep your head high and your outlook positive. Remember, every rejection is just another step on the road to getting an offer.