It can be quite difficult to deal with any rejection. Human brains are programmed to think about the negative, and the rejection can often feel unpleasant or worse than it is at first. Some job seekers may view it as a sign of failure and will find it challenging to bounce back, however, it’s more productive if you use rejection in a positive way to build on your strengths, identify areas for improvement and re-evaluate your job search to ensure that you are applying for the right roles.

This article provides direction on handling rejection, bouncing back and moving forward in a positive way with your job search.

Evaluate your own performance

Conducting a post interview evaluation is an underutilised tool that can be incredibly beneficial to assist in understanding where you feel you have done well and where you feel you can improve in future interviews.

Ask yourself some questions about your performance, for example:

• What additional preparation could I have done?
• Was there anything I should have known about the company that I didn’t?
• Did I build a good rapport with the interviewer?
• What went well?
• What didn’t go well?
• How did I feel after the interview?

Be honest with your answers as this is the only way to get the most value from this exercise.
Try not to over analyse, you can replay the interview over and over in your head and that can bring on feelings of remorse which is unproductive. If you can, start taking action once you have evaluated your interview performance; you will feel much more productive and confidence will begin to build back up, positioning you as a stronger candidate moving forward.

Gain feedback

Some companies have a policy which restricts them from providing detailed feedback to candidates, however, it’s still worth asking in case they are open to providing you with feedback. Don’t expect too much but make sure that you do ask as this could highlight any areas of experience you need to strengthen or any areas for improvement for future interviews.

Remain positive and gain perspective

Try not to over analyse everything and remember that not securing a position is part of the process.
Think about what you have done to overcome rejection in the past. Recognise your strengths and remember how you have succeeded in the past when faced with challenges. If it helps, make a “positive list” and write down your achievements and strengths to help remind you of all the positive things you have achieved throughout your career so far. Create a list of interviews you have had and any positive feedback you have received as well as any areas for improvement.

Continuing with your job search

Try to not let the rejection stop you from applying for future opportunities. Learn from your post interview evaluation. Have a think about whether you need to change strategy; do you need to change or add more detail to your answers? Remember that if you secured an interview, the employer saw potential and felt that you had the right skills for that position so don’t let the rejection deter you from applying for other similar roles.