Getting Used to Rejection in Your Job Hunt

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Every job seeker experiences a job rejection at some point or another, but it does not have to be a crippling experience. Brighten your outlook and move forward after a job rejection.

Focus on Your Skills and Talents

Simply because you are not considered to be fit for a particular position does not mean that your skills and talents are any less magnificent. It is always cheaper to hire entry-level workers, so some employers are more likely to turn down well-educated, highly experienced candidates because they cannot afford to pay them fair compensation for the position. Focus on the skills that you have and the talents that you posses, and find a position that pays you handsomely to put it all to use.

Don't Take It Personally

It is important to avoid taking job rejection too personally. Sometimes people are rejected from jobs simply because they are not qualified for the position. For some open positions, there may be hundreds of applicants. A single employer cannot hire everyone, so it is likely that some really good candidates other than you were also rejected. In addition, your unique personality may not be a good fit for a particular work environment.

Remove the Emotional Link

A job rejection can remind you of every instance in your life that you felt you were not adequate. It can also be a silent confirmation of inferiority and even raise severe anxiety in people who have severe emotional reactions to rejection. To survive rejection on your job hunt, you must dissolve the emotional memory triggers that job rejections may conjure. A job rejection does not make you a person of poor character or a horrible employee.

Learn From Your Mistakes

After a job rejection, learning from your possible mistakes becomes a valuable reward. Reflect on your interview performance, and consider updating your resume. If you are rejected by an employer, consider asking for the reasons why you were not given the job. This insight truly helps your job search in the future, and it can also make you less likely to experience further job rejections.

Maintain a Positive Outlook

Adopting a positive attitude towards a job rejection can make all of the difference in overcoming it. It is crucial that you continue your job search in a strong frame of mind so that you can secure employment. Employers are repelled by despondent job candidates, so do not develop a negative attitude towards your job search. Remember that a job rejection from one company has the potential to lead you on a path to employment in another company, so look forward with optimism.

A job rejection can make you feel like you are not good enough to handle a job. Stress can build after a job rejection if employment is desperately needed, so consider taking short break from your job search to recharge yourself and bounce back. Transcend the negative feelings surrounding job rejection and maintain a positive attitude to move into the pastures of employment.

 

(Photo courtesy of PinkBlue / freedigitalphotos.net)

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