It is never a pleasant experience receiving a phone call or email informing you that you were unsuccessful in your application for a job. It can be easy to feel dejected and disheartened, particularly if you have been well prepared for the interview and felt that it went very well. The key to success is to remain positive and to use the experience to your advantage with future applications.
Allowing rejection to knock your confidence could negatively affect your performance in future interviews so it is important that you focus on the positives. As a specialist recruiter in accountancy profession market, our top tips on dealing with rejection will give you the direction you need to bounce back from rejection and influence your performance and effectiveness in future interviews.
1. Thank the employer
Thank the business for the opportunity to learn more about them and the organization and ask them to keep you in mind for the “next time” they have a job open and to stay in touch. This will increase the chances of the employer remembering you should you apply for further posts. Successful candidates may turn job offers down and employers could potentially offer the post to the one of the unsuccessful candidates. Being humble and showing your grateful for the opportunity can help put you at the top of the list.
2. Always seek feedback
A key part of learning from interviews and improving is to request detailed feedback. Look back over the process yourself and see what you could improve. Could you have done more research? Think of questions that you wish you would have asked. Interview feedback can sometimes be vague and unhelpful so explore other forms of feedback wherever possible. Asking for both positive and negative feedback will re-assure you and give you confidence in the areas you did well in, whilst highlighting areas for you to develop and work on.
3. Don’t blame yourself
Decisions are rarely based on your interview performance alone. If you prepared well and tried your best, then you should be happy with your performance. You may have performed excellently but there could be other factors at play such as a very strong internal candidate already familiar with the business, or another candidate with slightly more relevant experience than you. These are things beyond your control that you cannot change.
4. Review the job market
Taking the decision to look for a new job opportunity is significant and its highly important that you ensure you make the right move. Applying for just one role could limit your chance of success, seek professional advice regarding what is the most suitable role and business for you, consider factors such as future development and training, career progression and culture/size of business.
5. A fresh approach/preparation
Approach each new job opportunity with a fresh perspective and a positive attitude. Tailor your CV/ application to best match every new opportunity and fully research and prepare for a new interview. Think about what you can offer the employer and be sure to let them know in your interview.
6. Keep learning and developing
Rejection can hit your confidence so it’s important to work hard at keeping your morale and motivation levels high. Keep your experience up-to-date by undertaking training courses (if relevant) or exploring voluntary positions. By keeping professionally active in this way, you can aid ongoing development and boost your confidence.
7. Stay Positive
The best way to deal with rejection is to remain positive and know that you are learning and getting better from each interview and opportunity. Turn rejection into a learning opportunity. There are many more people that are turned down for jobs. Accept it and move forward and focus on the next opportunity.
For further advice regarding interview preparation and techniques or the job opportunities within the accountancy profession, please contact Justin Barber at Barber McLelland on 0114 279 2843 or email justin@bmrecruitment.co.uk