We've all been there - you put in hours of work on a job application, nail the interviews, and feel confident that the job is yours. Then the dreaded rejection email or phone call comes. It stings no matter how many times it happens or how prepared you try to be.
While it's important to take time to process the disappointment, wallowing or beating yourself up won't make you feel better or get closer to your goals. There are many positive, productive things you can do after getting that "no thanks" from a potential employer. This list has 100 ideas spanning self-care, reflection, skill-building, networking and more.
Self-Care After Rejection
1. Take a bubble bath
2. Get a massage
3. Go to the spa
4. Have a good cry
5. Vent to a trusted friend
6. Go for a long walk
7. Cuddle with your pet or significant other
8. Listen to uplifting music
9. Watch funny YouTube videos
10. Do some yoga for stress relief
Reflecting On the Opportunity
11. Make a list of the position's positives and negatives
12. Consider if it was truly a good culture/team fit
13. Look at the bullet points you dodged
14. Think through if you would have ultimately been happy there long-term
15. List what you gained from this experience
16. Make peace with not knowing the real reasons for the rejection
17. Send a polite thank you note to the contacts you met
18. Think through constructive feedback for self-improvement
19. Consider if this was just bad timing
Next Step Planning
20. Research the company's competitors
21. Search online job boards for similar newly posted roles
22. Set up job alerts for ideal openings
23. Update your resume based on this target position
24. Refine your interview answers using this experience
25. Revise your target job list and descriptions
26. Make a list of relevant contacts to reach out to
27. Email new connections asking for informational interviews
28. Schedule time next week for a serious job search session
29. Enroll in courses to gain additional relevant skills
30. Plan to attend industry events, seminars and conferences
31. Follow relevant companies on social media for news of openings
32. Sign up for Google alerts on interesting companies and job titles
33. Check professional associations related to the target field for job boards
34. Search volunteer groups and nonprofits for ways to gain more experience
Confidence Boosting
35. Repeat positive affirmations in the mirror
36. Practice your body language and eye contact
37. Re-read current positive references and performance reviews
38. Look through your collection of thank you notes and messages
39. Make a brag list of recent wins and accomplishments
40. Revisit past successes and challenges you have powered through
41. Schedule get-togethers with friends who make you feel great about yourself
42. Watch a motivational speech or podcast for a boost
43. Exercise to release feel-good endorphins
44. Show off your skills by teaching someone else
45. Update your LinkedIn profile to showcase strengths and achievements
Career Advancement Moves
46. Ask former bosses or professors to serve as references or write recommendation letters
47. Review industry trends and news to find growing needs to highlight in applications and interviews
48. Brush up abilities with online classes in high demand software, programming languages, etc.
49. Get Google Analytics or other certifications that make you more marketable
50. Study competitors of the hiring company for alternative opportunities and insights
51. Take on a volunteer leadership role to demonstrate management experience
52. Update old contacts from previous jobs or externships about your job search
53. Pitch yourself as a guest article writer for news sites or blogs in your target field
54. Create video tutorials displaying your skills to post on YouTube
55. Offer paid consulting to former colleagues or companies to get freelance experience
56. Apply for higher level jobs calling for managerial skills you likely already have
57. Enroll in Toastmasters or improv classes to improve public speaking skills
58. Consider interim contract roles to gain new expertise and demonstrate adaptability
Positivity Building
59. Unplug from email to avoid seeing more rejection letters for a set time
60. Avoid comparing yourself negatively to other candidates or peers
61. List ways you have positively impacted past team members and companies
62. Remember that one rejection does not determine your worth or potential
63. Design a vision board with career goals and dreams to stay inspired
64. Practice gratitude for supportive colleagues, friends and family
65. Celebrate small daily achievements in addition to big "wins"
66. Find humor in some aspect of a bad interview or strangely worded rejection
67. Use mantras like “Something better is coming” to override self-criticism
68. Avoid imposter syndrome thoughts questioning your abilities or downplaying strengths
69. Focus on helping others instead of relentless self-promotion
70. Re-read favorite inspirational books, poetry or quotes
71. Commit small anonymous acts of kindness when you get frustrated
Getting Organized
72. Completely declutter your email inbox
73. Organize paper and computer files
74. Update contact database and job tracking systems
75. Create a brag document centralizing accomplishments
76. Build a portfolio site showcasing your work
77. Craft the perfect elevator pitch summarizing your background
78. Outline new targeted company and networking lists
79. Clean out your car trunk and glove compartment
80. Set up an uplifting, productive workspace to start your days focused
Self-Improvement Goals
81. Read career-boosting nonfiction books
82. Take a creative writing class to improve personal statements
83. Complete an improv or public speaking course
84. Learn basic graphic design to craft visually appealing resumes
85. Study a foreign language to stand out from competitors
86. Volunteer with an organization that helps people with barriers to employment
87. Shadow an acquaintance working in your target field to gain insights
88. Get freelance gigs to demonstrate versatility
89. Teach yourself web development or other tech skills online
90. Take photography and video editing classes to better self-market across channels
Job Search Tips
91. Let yourself cry for a day then repaint your war face the next day
92. Leverage LinkedIn to connect to the company’s team members
93. Follow up with the hiring manager, not just HR, requesting insights for improvement
94. Use interviews for inside intel to inform future applications
95. Send handwritten thank you notes after interviews to stand out
96. Treat applying for jobs like a full time job itself
97. Set a weekly goal to apply to a set number of openings
98. Resist the temptation to gripe about rejections on social media
99. Remember that the perfect role for you is coming even if this one slipped away
100. Persist despite discouragement knowing your ideal opportunity is out there!
The pain of rejection will fade, but focusing on next steps instead of questioning your worth makes finding the right fit much more likely. Try out some of the suggestions that resonate with you from the list above after your next "no thanks". Here's to future career victories headed your way soon!
Liked what you read?
I'd appreciate if you bought me a coffee -
it encourages me to keep writing helpful articles like this one.
Just click the link below to send a small tip my way. It's quick and secure! Thank you!
Comments
Post a Comment