"I Didn't Get The Job!" Outrageous!

Rejection happens, but you need to move on!  Here are a few tips to move onward...

Maybe you can use this post as a motivation speech.  Let it just light that fire underneath and give you the determination not to give up, but find that company that will hire you!

If you are currently looking for a new job and have had some rejections already or if you foresee yourself visiting that paradise of looking for a new job then I hope this post gives you a little advice on how to handle those "thanks, but no thanks" job rejections.

First tip of the day - Talk about it.

The fastest and most effective way to diminish your inner thoughts and feelings about a job rejection is to talk about it.  You literally become tired of focusing on it if you talk about it.  Get with a spouse, best friend, family member, trusted co-worker and just talk until your heart is content.  I did not say vent but talk.  Venting involves strong emotions, which can be uncontrollable and unhealthy at times.  Talking, on the other hand, keeps emotions in check, keeps you professional, and keeps brain chemicals in balance.  Why mention brain chemicals?

Have you ever heard of catharsis?  It is the act of purifying, cleaning, or purging of your emotions.  In a way, venting is catharsis.  The You Are Not So Smart blog explains catharsis and how it relates to venting.  Here's a little section out of the blog:

Releasing sexual tension feels good. Throwing up when you are sick feels good. Finally getting to a restroom feels good. So, it seemed to follow, draining bad blood or driving out demons or siphoning away black bile to bring the body back into balance must be good medicine. Be it an exorcism or a laxative, the idea is the same: get the bad stuff out and you'll return to normal.

It's drug-like, because there are brain chemicals and other behavioral reinforcements at work. If you get accustomed to blowing off steam, you become dependent on it.

Common sense says venting is an important way to ease tension, but common sense is wrong. Venting – catharsis – is pouring fuel into a fire. 

(Read the entire blog post @ http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/08/11/catharsis/).

When you talk, you control your emotions.  You also keep yourself open to options and advice from those you talk with.  You are also emotionally able to view a different picture of your job rejection (read second tip below).  You remain professional and stand ready to move on to another job opportunity when you talk.  You won't be aggressive and make rash, non-thought-out decisions.

Second tip of the day - Recognize.

You probably weren't the only talented one being interview.  It might have been the luck of the draw that someone else was offered the position over you.  It is a good chance that the hiring manager just had to pick someone because many candidates were a good fit, but they couldn't hire everyone.  You may not have been rejected.  Recognize that you were well qualified, but many others were just as qualified and a decision had to be made for one of you.

Third tip of the day - Reflect and Move on!

After you have taken some time to talk about your job rejection, take a moment to think about the interview and see how you can improve.  Review the interview questions that were asked and the answers you gave.  Think about any documents you may have submitted (e.g. resume) and how you may have acted in front of interviewers or around the potential employer’s place of business.  In all these areas that I just listed, ask yourself “what can I do to improve on or do differently?”  See what could have made you more attractive and appealing to the recruiter or hiring manager - on paper and in person.  When you find something, educate yourself on that area and make improvements.

Once you have done a self-evaluation, move on to new job applications, new interviews and regain that momentum you had before the job rejection.  The effects of the rejection will only last as long as you allow them to last.