It happens to just about everyone at some point when interviewing, you think you are a great potential candidate for a position and then you get a rejection email or letter. Most likely you will be wondering “Where did I go wrong?” or “What could I have done differently?” These are great questions to consider and then learn how to improve upon your interviewing. Remember, job rejections can happen for a variety of reasons and you the best approach is to review what you think you could have handled better and learn for your next interview.
Reason 1:
When answering interview questions, you could have given a stronger presentation of your skills, knowledge and experiences based on what the position is seeking and requiring.
How to handle it:
It is critical to take the time to research and get to know as much as you can what the position entails and how the department operates. Be sure to give actual specific examples to support your skills. What are their motivating goals and mission? How do you fit in? It is as important that you show you can do the job as it is that you share similar values and understand the cultural priorities.
Reason 2:
Your emotions may be influencing how you are presenting during an interview. If you have been interviewing for a while with no success, then it is possible that negative emotions (ie; frustration, stress) can come through and sabotage the overall interview.
How to handle it :
Be sure to stay aware of your emotions and know that interviewing can be an emotional roller coaster. Try to stay focused on the positives and your accomplishments. If necessary, talk your emotions out with a trusted source such as a friend or career counselor so they don’t stay bottled up inside of you.
Reason 3:
This is a time to remember that we all have our unique strengths and skills and if you received a job rejection, it maybe because it is not a solid match for you. Also keep in mind that there are many variables for the company as well and the department may have decided to change what they need in a candidate.
How to handle it:
Interviewing can be stressful and one of the reasons for this is there are aspects of applying that are out of your control such as company need, budgets and re-organizations. The best way to handle this is to present your strongest match in an interview and stay in touch with your recruiter so you are aware of next steps and the timeline. If a change is being made regarding the position, possibly there is another role that you could be considered for.
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