7 ways to stay motivated in the face of rejection on the job hunt
The new year is an ideal time to get back out there with renewed enthusiasm and confidence. Here are seven ways to continue putting your best food forward in the face of rejection in the job market. It’s been a banner year for job seekers, but not everyone is finding success.
Manage your mindset
While each job application and interview offers a fresh opportunity, we often can’t help but carry with us feelings of rejection from previous experiences
- Don’t take rejection personally, as there are many reasons why a candidate might be overlooked
- You could indeed be the most qualified and best candidate and still not get the job
Make a “Brag List”
Come up with a list of accomplishments to remember why you deserve to be in the seat you’re applying for
- Reflect on all the things you’ve already achieved and make a list to help you feel more confident going into future interviews
Reevaluate your strategy
Take a hard look at your strategy and consider what mistakes they might be repeating.
- Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of Ladders, says that in a hot hiring market, those who are struggling for a prolonged period are most likely making one of three common mistakes
- Your résumé, your interview style, or how you talk about your past boss
- Fix these problems today
Don’t Throw Spaghetti at the Wall
When applying for a new job, ask yourself these questions: what organizations would I love to join, what impact would I want to make, how would I align my transferable skills to that role, how do I package myself as that candidate that they must interview?
- Apply online, but also reach out and introduce yourself.
Seek honest feedback
Hiring managers have little incentive for providing honest feedback.
- One way to disarm the employer so they do give you some honest feedback is to say, ‘I really appreciate you taking the time; I had a wonderful time meeting you; sorry it didn’t work out.’
Don’t keep it to yourself
If people know what you’re looking for, there’s a greater chance that they might know of somebody or see something that can help you
- Not everyone can help, but sometimes there might be a moment of inspiration or a suggestion or a connection that comes out of nowhere
Take Baby Steps
Rather than focusing on the ultimate goal of landing a job, establish a series of smaller and more manageable goals along the way.
- For example, reach out to the recruiter to check in politely, or listen to a podcast of someone you admire in your field that might give you more motivation.