What to do when you've been rejected for a job

Womp womp, you didn’t get the job. It might sting a little bit, but it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of opportunities out there waiting for you! In fact, you can use this rejection to your advantage…

Just because you didn’t land the job this time, doesn’t mean you’ll never get anything out of the experience. You just need to know how to leverage it. Here’s what to do when you’ve been rejected for a job.

Thank them.

Send a thank you note to everyone who was part of the hiring process. This will show them that you not only have good manners, but that you also truly appreciate that they took the time to consider you for the role.

Get feedback.

Within your thank you note, briefly ask what you need to do in order to earn a position in the future. If they’re willing to give you some insight on what you need to work on, use that information to make yourself a better candidate for next time.

Stay connected.

Ask them the best way for you to keep in touch. Just because they said “no, not today,” doesn’t mean they’ll never consider you for another opportunity. You could have been a great candidate for the job, and they may want to keep you in mind if something pops up. So, ask them how you should stay connected in the event anything changes.

Wish them the best.

You may have lost the job, but it’s important to remember that hiring isn’t easy. Crushing someone’s hopes by telling them they didn’t get the job is always going to be hard. So, it’s important to keep that in mind. It’s easy to be snarky when you’re feel like you were gypped out of an opportunity, but it’s best to put on a smile and wish them the best. Who knows, it could help you land something later.

If you need more help building your job search strategy, book an appointment with Longwood University Career Services and work with a career coach.