It happens to everyone, and unfortunately, there is no magic pill to make you feel better when you get rejected. In fact, you feel lousy and it never gets any better. So what can you do about it? Here are some tips:
- Maintain a proper perspective. Remember, there are hundreds of jobs you might be interested in, and thousands of companies you could possibly work for. So don't get discouraged over a few rejections. It's just not worth it. Rejection is nothing personal. No one is saying they don't like you, or that you are not a good person. How can they possibly know that in a few short interviews? What they are saying is they have hired someone else instead, and that is their option.
- Develop a support group. Many people find it is devastating to handle rejection by themselves. They feel miserable when they are un successful, and this impedes their progress in the job search. If you feel like this, you should probably develop a support group. Seek out people who will listen to you when you are down. Explain to them what you need from them. Is it just a friendly shoulder? Do you want feedback? Do you need reinforcement? Can you find this type of help at home, or among your friends? Is there a group you can join at the counseling center? Talk to your career counselor.
- Stay active. Go to seminars and meetings. Introduce yourself to people you want to meet. Ask good questions. Every business and social function you attend is a potential source of information and contacts. You should never leave an event without getting the names of at least two contacts. Set that number as your goal. If you find it difficult to go to events by yourself, ask a friend to accompany you. Explain to them that you need their help.
- Keep organized. Set a schedule of regular activities and tentative deadlines for yourself. Determine how many job-search letters you should send out weekly. Make sure you send them. Set goals for yourself. How many interviews should you go on each week? Two? Four? Five? Look at the odds. The more interviews you have, the greater your chance is for success. Make plans to do library research at least one day a week. Spend one morning a week setting up field interviews. Make a weekly appointment to talk to your career counselor for a progress report. The more organized you are, the easier your job search will be. The less time you have to feel depressed, the less depressed you will feel.
- Maintain complete records. An effective job search requires well-organized and complete records. You should keep copies of all correspondence. Maintain a list of your contacts. Record the dates and results of your telephone conversations. Know how you plan to follow up. Document important data about specific interviews. Who did you meet with? How did it go? When did you send a follow-up thank-you letter? When will you hear from them?
- Treat yourself well, both mentally and physically. Do things you feel good about. If jogging makes you feel good, force yourself to run often. If you like seeing films, budget your money so you can afford to go to a movie a week. It is easy to withdraw into yourself in a stressful period, and it is important that you don't. Interviewers can easily sense a defeated candidate. That is why it is particularly important to take care of yourself. Make sure you look good. Eat well. Exercise with regularity. Attend to spiritual and psychological needs. Keep well-groomed.
- Continually evaluate your game plan. As you know by now, the job search is a process. This means it is ongoing and flexible. Therefore, your game plan must be the same. You must continually evaluate the effectiveness of its elements. If you find your letters are not getting a response, figure out why. If you can't be objective, ask for help.
- If your resume isn't generating interviews, why is that? Have you stressed your accomplishments? Is it well-written and cleanly typed? If your resume is generating interviews but you're not doing well in those interviews, what is the problem? Are you ill-prepared or do you freeze up? Is your manner antagonistic or aren't you enthusiastic enough? Finally, are you doing everything right, but you just aren't getting the breaks? This happens; just remain patient. Eventually things will break for you.
- Maintain a positive mental attitude. This is one of the most important things you can do in the job search. The major difference between a successful job-seeker and an unsuccessful one is a difference of attitude. Everyone finds the job search difficult. Most people suffer disappointments and have setbacks. But successful job-seekers don't give up. What differentiates them from the crowd is they continue to persevere in spite of these setbacks. They are survivors. They realize the job search is a game, and that rejection is nothing personal. On the other hand, the "victims" are destroyed at the first sign of rejection. For some, one "no" is all they need. They immediately decide the "real world" is not for them, and they run home and fill out applications for graduate school. For others, it takes two "no’s" before they quit. But if you're a survivor, even the third, fourth, fifth, or fifteenth "no" presents no real problem.
