This
is a tough topic this week – how to deal with rejection in the job market. I
will share with you that I’ve applied for many jobs in my 35 year career that I
didn’t get. Sometimes up to 100 each time I wanted to move on. Discouraging?
Yes. Hopeless? No. Here are some of my best tips for dealing with rejection:
You’re
Not Alone
Follow
up
Retool
Network
Consult
an Expert
You’re Not Alone. Everyone fails at
something. Abraham Lincoln went to war as a Captain, only to return a Private. Walt
Disney was fired early in his career, because he “lacked imagination and had no
good ideas.” Stephen King’s manuscript for the book “Carrie” was rejected 30
times (and he threw it in the trash!). As mentioned earlier, I’ve seen plenty
of job rejection in my time. I used to keep a file of rejection letters – some
say that’s depressing, but it actually helped me past more than one
self-doubting moment. When I felt rejected, I would pull out those letters and
read through them. I would think about each job and the information I had
learned since then. Sounds strange, but I always felt that better things were
coming after reading those letters; that the best “fit” for me must still be
out there. Choose to move on (mentally and emotionally), but make every effort
to learn from the experience!
Follow Up. One important way to
learn from the experience is to follow up. Call the Human Resources (HR) Office
and ask for insight on your resume and qualifications. Identify gaps, make sure
you’re applying for the right level position, ask questions about what they
feel you’re missing (experience, training, etc.). If you were interviewed, call
and ask the interviewer for feedback. Find out what made the selectee the “best
candidate” and what you could do to improve your chances of being selected the
next time. Recognize that few people like to talk in negatives, so be prepared
by having some specific questions to ask. It is easier to answer a direct
question, than to respond to “What did I do wrong?” If you really want to work
for this agency or company in the future, the follow up call should be treated the
same as a second interview – be gracious, yet purposeful in the conversation.
Retool. Whether you’ve gained some new information or
not, take time to step back and evaluate where you are in your job search. Do
you need more experience? training? Are there unexplained gaps in your resume?
Think about ways to address any issues. In short, retool your image. Think
about finding a volunteer position in your chosen field, if you’re lacking
experience. Consider taking some training – there are many online resources
that offer free training courses to enhance your resume. Join local environmental organizations. If in
school, join student chapters of professional organizations. In short, find
ways to fill in any gaps you’ve identified. Remember, it is a tight job market,
and it may not be that you lack anything – it may be that the competition is
just too stiff. In that case, you aren’t hurting anything by continuing to
develop your skills and experience, so why not do it?
Network. Use your personal
and professional network to find job leads. One way to do that is to completely
fill out your LinkedIn profile and include the link on your resume. Believe it
or not, I’ve had quite a few potential employers check my LinkedIn page – ask
work and school contacts to endorse you on the site. Join local or student chapters of
professional organizations. These often have monthly meetings and periodic
networking activities. Make up simple business cards that you can hand out when
you meet people at these events, or when you’re out doing other errands. Go to
local environmental organization or agency events. In short, make as many
connections as you can. I remember reading a book about being unemployed and it
said that looking for work was a full-time job – they recommended putting
together a weekly “to do” list. On this list, put down how many contacts or
activities you are going to do each week – and get out there and do them!
Consult an Expert. I hesitate to
recommend this, only because like any good advice, one must be careful to
select a trusted source for it. If you have access to a trusted source, such as
a university career counselor, use it! It is in their best interest for you to
get a job, so they are focused on your success, not your consulting fee. Likewise,
many professional organizations offer career mentoring for free, linking you to
a mentor in your field of interest. If you know someone in your career field (a
friend or relative, a professor), ask their assistance. Use your resources (and
your money) wisely!
I
know rejection isn’t easy! I hope that these tips help you rebound and have you
finding your dream job soon!
Dr.
Carol A. Pollio
P.S.
Please comment and provide me with feedback my blog!
Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment