How to turn a job rejection into an opportunity

Many people know this feeling: you find an incredibly inspiring job, spend a lot of time on training, sometimes you even get to know the team, and at the end you get a message with the words “We are very sorry, but…". This is always unpleasant, especially if you really want to work for a company.

In fact, refusal is rarely associated with the personal qualities of the applicant. Usually it's a lack skills and in other applicants who were more persuasive in the interview or have more relevant experience. And while rejection seems like a missed opportunity, it can be used to leave a good impression of yourself and open doors for future professional connections. One has only to approach the issue strategically.

Do not immediately respond to rejection

It's okay to be upset because you didn't get a job. But do not take out disappointment and resentment on the HR manager. Usually, the one who sends a refusal is either neutral towards you, or sincerely regrets that everything turned out this way, because he liked you. Your angry response will change a good impression into a bad one.

Instead of reacting in the heat of the moment, give yourself time cool down and answer when the first strong emotions subside. Here are some friendly options:

• Thank you for informing. The answer disappointed me, but I appreciate the time you gave me.
• Thank you! It’s a pity that this time it didn’t work out, but it was nice to meet you and learn more about the company.
• Thanks for the answer. I liked the communication with the team, and I will definitely follow your vacancies.

At this stage, you can also politely ask feedbackto find out exactly what went wrong.

Don't send resume over and over again

There is nothing wrong with sending your resume to the same company again in the future. It’s just better to wait a little after the rejection and definitely don’t bombard the HR department with messages endlessly. The HR manager will most likely recognize your name and remember that he has already considered you as a candidate. With such persistence, you will certainly be remembered, but not in the quality in which you would like.

Therefore, do not apply for a job again in the hope that this time someone else will see your resume, but take advantage of existing relationships. Note how nice it was to meet the management and the team and how much you liked the company, and also emphasize that you would still like to work together in the future.

Use your dating history to your advantage

The next time you see another suitable vacancy in a company you are interested in, send a resume, and then write to an HR manager you already know. Here is what would be useful to add to the message:

• A reminder that you've been in touch. For example, “A year ago, we were negotiating for a marketing position, but then we didn’t agree on some details.”
• A mention of what you've been up to since then.
• Explain why you are interested in the new position.
• A story about how you fixed past shortcomings (if you were given feedback).

Even if a company representative does not immediately remember you, such a thoughtful message will definitely attract his attention.

If you are applying for a job that is different from the previous one, be sure to explain what has changed and why you are doing it. For example, you started learning programming and decided change profession marketer to the profession of a web developer or discovered the ability to draw and decided to become a designer. The more the HR manager knows about you, the easier it will be for him to distinguish you from other candidates and defend your interests in front of management.

Take advantage of connections

Even when you pass an interview and get rejected after it, you still have an advantage. This is the impression you made live. Some of the employees may have memories, even vague ones, or notes about what you were talking about then and what they thought of you.

Therefore, if you receive a refusal, ask if you can social networks maintain contact with the HR manager and other employees with whom they communicated. It's enough just to say: "It was so great meeting you, I would like to stay in touch." It will also help you find out what's going on in the company and what has changed since your last visit.

Not everyone will appreciate this immediacy, but you can try to write every 6 months to the HR manager or employee who seemed to you the most authoritative during the interview. Remind yourself of who you are and ask how you are. Of course, if a person does not answer, you should leave him alone. But if he makes contact, feel free to make new professional connections. There is every chance that your new friend will remember you the next time a new job opens at the company, or talk about opportunities that you did not even know existed.