Dealing With Rejection During a Job Interview

High school and college never prepare us for many things. A place that the young see as a haven of experiences never teaches us about life in the real world, including job rejection.

You are so focused on getting everything right and wooing your interviewers during an interview. Essentially, you are focused on the ultimate cost, the job. As a result, you don’t know what hits you in the face when your interviewer says, “We’re sorry to tell you this, but you are not the right fit for this job.” Isn’t that terrible? Unfortunately, this is the best-case scenario.

Other interviewers keep you waiting by your phone for a call or email, and they deliver the bad news without even looking you in the eyes. That’s another promising scenario. In the worst-case scenario, you will never hear from them again.
Most interview candidates are so focused on their rejection that they fail to see the bigger picture. As humans, we have a tendency to exaggerate, and this extends to rejection situations as well. To be honest, rejection isn’t as bad as we make it out to be. You can definitely turn this into a stepping stone once you get your head in the right place.

Although this is easier said than done, as a rejected candidate, you should use the time spent mopping up to make corrections based on the feedback you received from the interviewer, if any. Spend time working on transforming your weaknesses into strengths.

Address issues concerning personal and professional development. Give the rejection no power to make you feel bad for what it’s worth.

Maintain your positive attitude.

Success is infused with positivity. No matter how bad the experience was, you should always learn something from a failed interview.

If you believe you performed admirably, demonstrating your technical abilities and communicating fluently with the interviewer(s), consider the situation as a glass half full; that job was not meant for you. If you do not receive feedback after the interview, do not be discouraged; instead, prepare to impress more interviewers with your abilities. Every day, new job opportunities emerge for those who are prepared to seize them. Simply move on.

In some cases, you may face a string of rejections; develop a tough skin; you will need it to avoid depression. In any case, never stop growing as a person or as a professional. You are not by yourself. We’ve all experienced rejection at some point in our lives. All you need is a positive outlook on things.

Make your job search more efficient.

Because the job market is so competitive these days, you must be the best of the best in your field to get the job you deserve. Streamlining your search and applying for jobs that match your technical skills will put you ahead of the competition.

It is recession time all over the world, and businesses and organizations are downsizing to the smallest staff force they can afford without compromising set standards. This has made the job search more difficult. To be admitted, you must meet all of the requirements. Some companies go so far as to employ amusing methods to eliminate those they refer to as ‘weaklings.’ Avoid being cut off at this point.

Examine issues critically and plan ahead of time

As humans, we rely on others to tell us things about ourselves that we might not know otherwise. This is why it is critical to conduct a critical analysis of the reason for the job rejection. Was it the way you dressed, spoke, or demonstrated your expertise? Be as achromatic as possible; this will help you once you figure out what’s wrong. Never go to another interview without first addressing your lingering weakness; work on it right away.

Revisit technical and personal questions and provide appropriate responses. Read as much as you can about your chosen field. Know the most recent advancements at your fingertips, and wow your interviewers with a well-packaged and informative response to each question asked.

Interviewers are trained to rip up the surface of you, exposing a vulnerable candidate. Do not allow them to do this to you. As much as possible, try to avoid miscommunication. Avoid making infuriating comments; otherwise, you will doom yourself. Maintain your cool and make sure that any external factors that could influence your behavior are left outside of the interview room.

To be honest, some top executives are poor communicators. The struggle to effectively communicate their technical capabilities. This is a recipe for disaster, and it keeps them in a job they should have quit long ago.

Learn and practice interviewing techniques. The star technique, which involves using illustrations of competencies demonstrated by you to answer questions, could be useful. It works flawlessly. Practice and keep track of your problem-solving accomplishments to hone this skill. Finally, get ready! Prepare!! Prepare!!! This cannot be overstated.

Obtain feedback

When you are rejected for an interview, the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘what did I do wrong?’ This is where feedback enters the picture.
During interviews, inform interviewers that you would appreciate feedback from them. Inform them of how important it is to you and how necessary it is for your personal development. This alone can impress the interviewer(s), demonstrating how much effort you put into becoming an employable individual, and may secure the job for you.

The majority of interviewees do not do this. Send a follow-up email to the human resources department of the company you interviewed with, demonstrating professionalism and putting you ahead of other candidates. Remind them of the feedback you require from them. Positive or negative feedback is possible. Work on everything you’ve been told to work on in terms of self-improvement, communication, and presentation. You must also keep an open mind while doing so. This will allow you to see everything in a new light and easily effect change.

After all is said and done, everything revolves around you. Self-pity will not help you. Work on yourself, be confident, and prepare, and your next interview will be a walk in the park, resulting in a job so good you won’t believe it.