| Handling job interview rejection. You've had your job | | | | asking you? Did you respond with the relevant |
| interview, you're checking your emails, the post box | | | | information? Did the interviewer have to repeat the |
| and your phone. Then it comes through - "Dear John, | | | | question to get the information he or she wanted? |
| we regret to inform you ..." - the polite rejection. | | | | Were your responses fluent and well organized or did |
| This is not what you expected, you know you're the | | | | you stumble over your answers? Did you get the job |
| right candidate for this job. | | | | interview questions you expected or were you taken |
| Job rejection shock is a hard fact of life. It doesn't | | | | by surprise? |
| matter how good a candidate you are, one or more | | | | Did I show my enthusiasm for the position? |
| rejections are inevitable. Even in good times | | | | Did you use positive words and project a positive |
| organizations usually have a number of candidates to | | | | message with your body language? Did you display |
| choose from and in today's job market supply clearly | | | | confidence in your ability to do the job or were you |
| exceeds demand. | | | | nervous and unsure? Alternatively were you too |
| What are your options now? What do you do when | | | | pushy and dominated the discussion? |
| facing rejection? Take these simple steps and come | | | | Did I have informed and relevant questions to ask the |
| away from the experience wiser and better equipped | | | | interviewer? |
| to manage your next job application and interview. | | | | Did you prepare good and insightful questions to ask |
| Contact the employer immediately | | | | about the company, the job, the management and the |
| Phone or email and ask politely for constructive | | | | industry? Were your questions based on solid |
| feedback. Ask questions like, "Where did I fall short of | | | | information you had gathered during your interview |
| the requirements?", "Can you give me some advice | | | | preparation or did you quickly think up something to |
| that will help me with any future applications?" Avoid | | | | ask when the interviewer said, "Do you have any |
| sounding defensive but rather focus on the future and | | | | questions?" |
| suggest to the company that they can assist you by | | | | Did I have the right documentation with me? |
| providing you with honest feedback. Listen carefully to | | | | Did you have a portfolio with you that included |
| their answers, thank them for their time and input and | | | | references, work samples, extra copies of your |
| make good use of their advice. | | | | resume? When the interviewer asked for a document |
| Conduct an audit of your job interview keeping their | | | | were you able to produce it? |
| feedback in mind. Ask yourself these questions: | | | | Did I close the interview and follow up appropriately? |
| Did I do my homework ? | | | | Job interview rejection can be the result of the final |
| Did you find out sufficient information beforehand | | | | minutes of the interview. Had you addressed all the |
| about the organization and the job. Did you know all | | | | interviewer's concerns before leaving? Did you |
| about the job you were interviewing for - the tasks, | | | | restate your interest in the position and close with an |
| responsibilities, skills and abilities it involved?. How | | | | expression of appreciation for the interview |
| much detail did you have on the organization? Did you | | | | opportunity? Did you follow up with a thank you letter |
| know your strengths, weaknesses, selling points, | | | | within 24 hours of the job interview? |
| suitability? Was the position a good fit with your skills | | | | Thinking through your job application and interview in a |
| and abilities? | | | | constructive and proactive way will allow you to work |
| Did I make a good first impression? | | | | through your disappointment at job interview rejection |
| First impressions are critically important in job | | | | and shift your focus to the next opportunity. Build on |
| interviews as they set the tone for the rest of the | | | | what you have learned and try to keep positive. Keep |
| interview. Did you arrive on time? Were you | | | | looking for the right opportunity and stay determined. |
| appropriately dressed? When you saw how the | | | | Getting the right job requires dedication, a planned |
| company employees were dressed did you feel | | | | approach and a great deal of focused effort - it's a |
| comfortable with what you were wearing? Did you | | | | job in itself! Go through the pre interview checklist to |
| greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and use | | | | make sure you are properly prepared to make the |
| the correct name? | | | | best impression in your job interview. Persistence, |
| Did I listen carefully and answer questions | | | | preparation and constant improvement will land you the |
| appropriately? | | | | right job. |
| Were you clear about what the interviewer was | | | | |