Episode #6 - How to Deal with Rejection in Your Job Search
July 23, 2020
by Melanie Reed
At some point in your job search you will face rejection. This is a normal part of the process. But for some of you this may feel devastating and cause you to give up or get down on yourself. In this episode, I offer five suggestions on how you can deal with the inevitable rejection you will face in your job search and share a personal rejection story and what I learned from it.
Here are my five tips for dealing with rejection:
- Re-frame your rejection
- Take responsibility (for your effort and action)
- Ask for feedback
- Take action
- Be aware of your limiting beliefs
Here is a summary of the episode:
- [01:20] - At some point in your work or life you will face someone who doesn't love what you create or do, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it anyway. Someone might love it or benefit from it.
- [03:10] - Fear of rejection holds many of us back. For many of us, acceptance of the fact that not everyone will love
- [03:53] - Jack Canfield and his partner had to pitch Chicken Soup for the Soul to over 150 publishers before they got a 'yes!'
- [05:00] - There is value in getting feedback from others. It helps you improve what you are offering and presenting yourself and reminds you how much you want what it is you want.
- [06:15] - I have five suggestions on how you can overcome rejection in your job search.
- [06:25] - I talk about the first suggestion; which is to re-frame your rejection. Consider a "no" from a job competition as a "not yet" for this company or role and look at this response as feedback on what you presented rather than a rejection of you as a person. You may not be right for this role at this time, but that doesn't make you wrong as a person.
- [07:54] - The second suggestion is to take responsibility. Ask yourself could you have done anything differently in the process. Did you prepare as well as you could? Did you practice? Be honest.
- [08:58] - The third suggestion is to ask for feedback. Some employers won't do this, but it's invaluable if you can get it. And, it never hurts to ask!
- [09:56] - The fourth suggestion is to take action. Get busy and move on to the next great opportunity. Don't let one "no" keep you from the next "yes."
- [11:00] - The final suggestion is to be aware of your limiting beliefs. If you are not sure how to do this, check out Episode 2 and download the worksheet to work through your limiting beliefs.
- [13:22] - I share a quick story about my most devastating job search rejection and why it was so upsetting for me. What was interesting about this experience is that it was a role that I didn't really want in an organization I didn't align with in a role I wasn't totally experienced for. But what I realized through this experience was that I knew I really wanted a chance of lifestyle for my family and I had to shift gears in my job search and be willing to take less money and a different type of role.
- [17:25] - Not every job is going to be the right one, but if you follow these suggestions and stay persistent you will find the right one for you right now.
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