You just interviewed for the job of a lifetime.
Throughout the hiring process, the people you met seemed genuine, interesting, and motivating. And it feels like you just might get chosen for the role.
An email from the recruiter comes through, and you get nervous butterflies. You excitedly open it, but your heart plunges when you get to the second paragraph and read, “Unfortunately, you are not moving forward in our hiring process.”
Those words are soul-crushing and many candidates seeking their dream job have read those exact words. But we are here to tell you that while the heartache stings, there are ways to overcome it and come out better on the other side.
So, let’s dive into the four mindsets that can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
While this phrase might sound cliché, it’s rung true for many candidates’ time and time again.
When you get rejected from a dream job, it can feel like the end of the world. But often, another opportunity that’s just as good (if not better) is waiting for you around the corner.
Life is full of peaks and valleys. You’ll realize there’s a pattern一things usually work out when you least expect. When you’re in the deepest of valleys, or the most negative mindset, you can always anticipate that a mountain is just around the corner.
So, when you’re down, take stock of your current blessings, learn from any mistakes you felt you made during the interview process, and keep at it.
Many employers have very specific characteristics they’re looking for in a potential employee. And unfortunately, some organizations are so serious about checking off every box that if a candidate doesn’t match every single element of a job description, then they don’t move forward.
The reality is that even if you could do that job without nailing every bullet, you probably wouldn’t want to. You don’t want to be confined to a list of skills, you want to play to your strengths and find a place where you can use these to really shine. So, use this as a sign to find other opportunities that would allow you to use your talents and strengths within your dream job every day. Then you get to what you really love and excel at, enjoying the greater purpose life has to offer.
Have you ever heard that it took Edison one thousand tries to get the lightbulb to work? That’s a lot of failure! But when asked how he felt about failing so many times, he replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The lightbulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
Profound, right?
Like Edison, other geniuses have experienced countless setbacks along their journeys. However, what allowed them to keep going and achieve their dreams was that they accepted failure as part of the process.
As job seekers, sometimes we must embrace failure as well. There are learning curves to writing a stellar cover letter, crafting your resume, and perfecting your interview skills. So, think of any “failures” as steppingstones along the way to eventually achieving your ultimate goal. We have seen so many candidates not get what they thought was their ideal job, to then get what they deem as their “dream job”, the next time around.
Prepping for interviews isn’t a walk in the park. Of course, you can rehearse in front of the mirror or with family and friends, but it feels far different when you’re talking to interviewers face-to-face.
In fact, sometimes the best way to practice interviews is to do them. So, remind yourself that even though this job didn’t pan out, you got in some extra reps. Analyze how those interviews went, and write down what areas you think you can improve upon in the future.
How can you be more concise? Did you ask the good questions in the end? Try to use this past interview as a data point to help you improve the next time around.
It’s totally fair to be disappointed when you’ve been rejected一how can you not be? However, make a point to recognize those feelings and deal with that emotion. Then, when you’re ready to pick yourself back up, try adopting these four outlooks. You’ll be surprised at how positive you’ll start to feel about getting back into the job market again. And if you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out to a recruiter. We’ve healed many a heartache and can help you find a job you truly love.
