What To Do If You Don’t Get The Job After a Job Interview

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You’re happy when you receive a call or an email invitation to interview for that new job opening you recently applied to. After going through the interview, you feel excited about the prospect of being hired. But often, you get a feedback from the firm or hiring managers that they have decided to move on with another candidate.

It can be heartbreaking, because you had thought you did your best to be a good fit for the job.
Most job seekers would immediately move on to the next application. However, despite losing out on a job, it still provides an opportunity to improve and be better as a prospective candidate.

These steps below can change your mindset and turn your disappointment around:

1. Think about what could have gone wrong.

Step back and reflect on the situation, and then ask yourself if there were any issues that prevented you from being the best fit for the job. Also, think about what skills or qualities were needed to improve in order to land the job.

Although it’s never easy to dwell on the experience and rejection, taking the time to learn new things will help you improve as a candidate.

2. Follow up.

Even if you don’t want to think about them anymore, sending a follow-up email to them two weeks after your interview can help them keep in mind that you still care about the job market and are open to learning more.

Ask for feedback and how you can do better in subsequent interviews. Also include a line that lets the interviewer know if there was a question regarding your candidacy, like a skill you should have but don’t currently have.

A typical email to send can be:

Dear Hiring Manager,

Thanks for informing me of your decision on this position.

It is certainly a disappointment not to start working with your team, but it was wonderful to speak to you and learn more about the impact your company is making.

If you have time, I would be very grateful to learn how I can improve my application and interview skills for future opportunities. If you are willing to provide me with some feedback, I know I can use it to become a better candidate.

Thanks again for the opportunity. I have high hopes for your company’s continued success and wish you all success going forward. If another role with a better fit open, don’t hesitate to contact me by phone or email.

Sincerely,

Your name.  

This way, you let them know you’re open to knowing more. Don’t worry if you don’t get a feedback but this will create a lasting positive impression.

3. Stay in Touch.

You may be interested in the company, so If you’re applying for a job, and you think you might be a good fit for the company, send an email to HR or another HR representative after an interview to keep in touch with them and see if there are any new openings.

What you can do is send emails at intervals asking if there are new positions and pointing out new skills that you have learnt that would be of benefit to the company. It is easier for them to keep you in mind when new openings come up.

Stand out from the rest by showing that you’re interested in the company’s long-term goals and by improving your skills, you’ll stand a chance to be contacted for that job sooner than later.

4. Talk to someone about your rejection.

Chances are you will want to deal with it all by yourself, but that is not a good idea. You may have told your friends, family and mentors about this opportunity before getting the rejection and now, you probably don’t want to tell them about it, now is the time to reach out to them.

Ask them if they know about a job opening that’s similar to the one you’re looking for. Also, ask them if they would be willing to hold a demo interview with you to access your interview skills.

5. Seek other job opportunities.

List the qualities that you liked about the job and consider the specific aspects of the job. There must be other companies who are also looking to fill the same role you applied to.

Having a list will help narrow down the field of potential employers. It’s also a good idea to look for companies that meet the same criteria.

You didn’t get the job, yes, but you now know what you want from a new position. Even if you’re job hunting, do not be desperate to settle for any job.