Oh, The Sting of Rejection

I will go ahead and say it...getting rejected SUCKS! No one enjoys hearing that he or she "is appreciated for applying, but no thanks!"; however, rejection is a huge and unfortunately common part of job searching.

So what do you do when you get rejected from an employer you were really striving for? Dust it off. It is not something to sit and dwell about. Of course, it is okay to feel that sting of rejection and get a little down on yourself for a bit, but there is no point in sitting around moping for long, especially when there are opportunities still out there that might be better for you. I have found that rejection is also not always a bad thing; it is a chance to recap and get back to improving your appeal to employers. I have even gone as far as sending a "thank you for your time" email which also includes a quick note to the hiring staff for feedback regarding their choice to pass. Feedback is key! Without criticism, competition, and rejection, we would not work as hard to make our situation better. These facets of life ultimately make us better!

I bring this up today because I was rejected by 5, yes 5 (AHHH!) organizations I applied for; however, I did get some good feedback from 2 of them who very graciously sent me an email about why they passed on me. I will be immediately implementing their feedback into the applications for jobs I will apply for today and in the future.

When the sting of rejection is dissolving, it is time to pick yourself back up again and move on to the next! Just remember to take any feedback to heart and don't get upset, just use it to get back on the trail!