What To Do If You Didn't Get the Job
You tweaked your resume to be just right. You aced the phone interview and are feeling confident about the possibility of a new job. The in-person interview is coming right up. You’re studying interview questions online and prepping your most professional #girlboss outfit.
Interview time. You get there early and bring your most welcoming smile. A notebook full of notes and ideas? You bet! You can almost hear the swoosh of the sent email with the offer letter attached inside.
Soon enough, You get the phone call you’ve been waiting for and… you didn’t get the job. The dream career bubble has popped and hope comes to a screeching halt.
Whoa! As dramatic as this story sounds, if you’ve been rejected from a job, internship, school, etc. you know exactly what I’m talking about. Rejection happens in the professional world and it hurts — but there’s something really painful about the rejection from what you thought was a DREAM opportunity.
The good news? You’re not alone! Here’s what to do when you didn’t get the job.
How to respond to rejection professionally:
The phone call:
The interviewer doesn’t want to break the bad news as much as you don’t want to hear it. They’ll cut to the chase immediately and you need to keep your cool. The rejection phone call can be an emotional situation.
It’s ok to express your sadness, as in “aw I’m sad to hear that, I had so many ideas for your company.” But leave it at that. Don’t get upset at the person on the other end. It’s not their fault. The most important thing to do is genuinely express your gratitude. Interviewing takes time on their end, too! Thank them for their time and for letting you know their decision.
If you can pull it together, it’s always worthwhile to ask for feedback, like whether there’s anything that you can work on that affected their decision. Again, tread lightly. If you don’t like their answer, thank them anyway. It’s for your benefit to hear it. And if they don’t have an answer for you, don’t press them.
The email:
It’s sad to be on the receiving end of that rejection email, but on the bright side, you now have time to craft a thoughtful response. Use the tips from above. Keep it very brief, express your gratitude for the time taken and for letting you know their decision. If you feel like it’s appropriate, ask if there’s any feedback they can provide to help you in the future (do this only if you had a face-to-face interview).
Leave it open for them to answer of their own choice. Don’t push. Use something like: “Also, if you have any feedback concerning me or my resume, please let me know.” Then, continue on with the thank you.
Remember: It’s always how you end things that people remember, so end on a positive note! You never want to burn a bridge. You may run into them again or something may open up there in the future – and you probably just want to be a nice human too, right? Also, you made it far enough to get an interview, they obviously liked you! It’s not uncommon for people to look at past candidates for when other positions open.
Now, let’s get to you!
3 Ways To Move On From Professional Rejection
1. Let it out!
At one point in my life when I was shocked to not a get an opportunity I believed I was getting, I hung up the phone and may have started sobbing…in the public park where I had taken the call. It’s funny to look back at it now, but at the time I was devastated. I immediately Googled “how to get over not getting a job” and found something that said that it’s ok to be upset and get mad. I’m here to second that. Cry, be sad, call your mom, you can take a day to be upset about it.
2. Get outside.
The above being said, it’s not healthy to let rejection weigh you down. Once you’re done processing, it’s important to do something fun that makes you happy. Take a walk, talk to a friend, do something active to take your mind off of it. This can also be a time to sharpen your skills – get inspired with a new book or podcast or maybe try learning something new.
3. Time to move on!
The good thing about jobs, internships, opportunities, etc. is that there are plenty more up ahead. It may seem like a HUGE deal now, but in the long run it will seem small. Treat this as a learning experience and start looking for other opportunities. The other opportunities ahead will be an even better fit for you.
When one door closes, a bright pink door opens!