Coping With Rejection & Seeking Feedback > advice

 

Putting It Into Perspective >

Ok so you have gone back to University in your third year and have decided it’s time to get a job.  You have sat down and filled out three applications with care and attention and are waiting for the phone to ring to invite you to interview, where you will shine and be offered all three jobs with a company car on top to guarantee they each win you over...Then your alarm wakes you up for your 9am lecture!

The likelihood is if you have had your eyes open in the last 12 months you will know the job hunt this year isn’t going to be that easy. During your graduate job hunt you will no doubt apply for a range of roles and the likelihood is you will not be successful in securing all of them.

However difficult it is important to not be too disheartened and to not feel as though you have failed. Whatever stage you reach it is an unpleasant experience but handled properly it however clichéd will help you in the long run. Never walk away without seeking feedback, no matter what stage you have been unsuccessful at, gaining feedback gives you the opportunity to hopefully do better at this stage in other applications next time.

 

Always Get Feedback! >

It is extremely important that you call the recruitment team and ask them to provide feedback in order for you to excel at your upcoming applications. 

 

Guidelines For Getting The Most Out Of Your Feedback >

 

1) Call as close to after the application/interview as you can because the interviewer should have you fresh in their mind as well as the details of your application.
- It may be they offer to call you back or perhaps book you an appointment
- Regardless ensure you have pen and paper when you call to make notes

 

2) Don’t get shirty or argue with the person giving you feedback
- They do not find any pleasure in rejecting people and despite how you might feel, have not done it on purpose
- Don’t let emotions get in the way of hearing what they have to say
- Arguing until you are blue in the face won’t do you any favours

Please remember:

- If the decision has been made that is it, learn from it and move on
- If there was any chance to change an interviewer’s mind, shouting at them won’t do you any favours

 

3) Ask them what section of the criteria you didn’t meet and if so why?

• Were there any issues with your application form or CV?
  - For example was it set out correctly?
  - Were there any grammar or punctuation errors?
  - Did you fell in all of the sections?
• Find out if/when you did well during the interview process.
  - Could you have done better or done something different in order to obtain the position and if so, what was it?

4) If you really want to ensure that you are successful at your future interviews, listen to the feedback and don’t take it too personally.

 

What if you are still struggling to get that job? >

- Having considered all of these things if you are still struggling to find the right role for you take some time to consider the roles you are applying for. Are they the right position for you, in the right area at the right level?

- Don’t forget it is worth visiting, or perhaps revisiting, your careers service to find out where your talents lie and where you should be directing them.
None of this changes the cruel reality of rejection. Disappointment, disillusionment and disgust really can undermine you. But whatever has gone wrong so far, it must not affect the way you continue your job search.

 

What to do when you start to lose faith? >

Treat every interview with the same attention to detail as the first. Only this way will you eventually find success.  There are no shortcuts, make the most of every interview.

 

Final suggestions:

• If you have already graduated, consider temping until something does come up.
  - Any role will give you valuable experience
  - Who knows it might open doors within the business to a more permanent role
• If you are looking for a job full-time, be professional about it.
  - Structure your day
  - Have a plan and develop a routine

 

Regardless of your approach remember that:

1) You are a talented graduate

2) You are qualified

3) You are still at the very beginning of finding what is right for you