Career Blog
Job hunting can be overwhelming, stressful, frustrating, and even disappointing, especially after being rejected several times. We’ve ALL been there: you are not alone, far from it, and many other students will inevitably face rejection. Here are the five most common causes of rejection and hacks to optimize your chances of being selected.
Cause #1: A keyword searching algorithm is screening applications
Most job postings today have an algorithm that screens applications. Your resumé may simply lack the keywords the algorithm is looking!
Hack: Book a resumé tailoring appointment with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch to learn which keywords are important to include for a specific application.
Cause #2: You submitted your application rather late
Sometimes we come across a job posting that has been posted weeks ago. If the application period is near, the hiring manager may have already given more consideration to earlier applications.
Hack: Make sure you have a solid generic resumé that you can tailor in no time when you stumble across a posting nearing its application deadline. And of course, be proactive in your job search to avoid that!
Cause #3: You may not fit the employer’s favourite profile
As students, we simply may not have acquired all the skills needed for a specific job.
Hack: Focus on jobs that match your current skills AND make sure to highlight your transferable skills that the hiring manager is looking to fill. To get a better sense of the positions that might be a good fit for you, book an appointment with the Career Counsellor at the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch.
Cause #4: You have not done enough networking
As we learn at Telfer, networking is a KEY factor of success in your job search. Your chances of landing an interview will be higher if the recruiter can put a face to your name in a pile of applications.
Hack: Use networking tools such as LinkedIn and attend networking events hosted by the Telfer Career Centre! Even better: book an appointment with a Relationship Managers at the Career Centre to discuss networking strategies suited to your aspirations.
Cause #5: You have not customized your application sufficiently
Employers are looking for applicants who are a great fit for their organization and the position. That is why you should ALWAYS tailor your resumé and cover letter for the job to which you are applying for.
Hack: Read you cover letter out loud and ask yourself: Is it clear that I have read and understood the job posting AND that I’m passionate about the employer’s mission and the position itself? If not, go back to the drawing board. To learn the best cover letter tailoring tips, book an appointment for a cover letter critique with the Professional Development Coordinator at the Telfer Career Centre.
The next time you apply for a job remember these tips to help you stand out from the applicant pool!
Good luck with your future job search!
Sources:
J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before she got published. Today, her net worth from the Harry Potter series exceeds $1 billion. Most people often face a great deal of rejection before they succeed. However, overcoming the fear of rejection will open up many opportunities both in your career and personal life.
Here are 3 ways to overcome the fear of rejection:
1. Seek out rejection
Inspired by the TED Talk What I learned from 100 days of rejection, by Jia Jiang, this first tip will help you desensitize yourself to the pain of rejection. In his experiment, Jia sought rejection for 100 days through absurd requests. These included asking to borrow $100 from a stranger and requesting a “burger refill” from a fast-food place. He got rejected almost every time.
By building this kind of resilience, you will discover that rejection is not a big deal. It will seem difficult at first, but eventually the negative emotions will begin to fade away. Rather than reacting with fear to any situation that involves a potential rejection, your mind will react positively.
2. Perform a cost-benefit analysis
Weigh the costs of getting rejected against the benefits of succeeding. How? Well, imagine you want to ask a manager for a coffee chat. If you get rejected, you might feel disheartened and discouraged. However, if the manager agrees, then you might build a valuable connection which could lead in turn to a potential job opportunity at your dream company. This cost-benefit analysis is extremely valuable for overcoming the fear of rejection.
J.K. Rowling allegedly said, “I had nothing to lose, and sometimes that makes you brave enough to try.” Had she not weighed the costs and benefits of trying to get published, she would not have had her best‑seller novels. Thinking in this way will help you realize that the fear of rejection is not worth giving up on your potential future opportunities.
3. Think about your past
Remember situations where you got rejected, but ultimately, it was for the best. I have experienced these many times throughout my life. I have been rejected more times than I can count, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Every time I got rejected, an even better opportunity arose. Although I was sad and upset at first, I understood later that it was a blessing in disguise.
Career paths are often not a straight path to success. Overcoming the fear of rejection is incredibly important as it will open up many opportunities for you throughout your career and personal life. Challenge yourself to get rejected today!
Dealing with uncertainty / rejection after a seemingly successful application process
You polished up your resume. You had your cover letter proofread 4 times. You made sure to tie your experience and abilities to the expectations of the role, all while infusing your personal brand and tone. You did your research on the company culture and voiced how you would fit in and excel there. You did your absolute best and you didn’t hear back. Ouch. It hurts.
To the dismay of the many eager job seekers, the frequented mantra: “only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted” is utilized all too often. Understandably so, although personally, I would appreciate a blunt “no” so I can stop biting my fingernails and end my incessant inbox surveillance.
Maybe you were fortunate enough to be selected for an interview, and if so, congratulations! You decided to be proactive by rehearsing your answers to the most common interview questions, and you made sure to schedule a practice interview with the Telfer Career Centre, incorporating feedback and recommendations about best practices. The day comes and the stars have aligned; you have the best interview of your life. Your answers were eloquent and well developed, you showed genuine interest, asked high-level questions and even made your interviewers laugh! As times goes on without any response, your satisfaction and optimism turn to confusion and disappointment. What went wrong? Do you follow up? How long should you wait? If you’ve already reached out and still receive no answer, what can you do?
Dealing with rejection is the unfortunate possibility we accept with every application we send out. Here are some important things to keep in mind when dealing with the disappointment of a fruitless employment opportunity.
Every experience is experience
- Focus on what you can positively draw from the experience. It could be something as simple as what you may have learned about the other person. Maybe there was a portion of the interview that you felt particularly proud of and want to replicate in the future, or an awkward disfluency you can ensure you avoid next time. Always try to highlight the beneficial aspects of every prospect. Doing so will not only help cope with any disappointments, but will hopefully encourage you to maintain a positive and perseverant outlook to keep trying.
Everything happens for a reason
- Try to take comfort in the notion that this event has occurred to your benefit. Yes, even though it’s a huge bummer, consider that perhaps the present has unfolded in this way to spare you from the worst and to ensure you are available for a better opportunity going forward.
You reap what you sow
- In today’s highly competitive landscape, it’s largely a numbers game. The more applications you send out, the better your odds are at landing a position. Of course, missing out on a dream job is going to sting a whole lot, but with effort and determination, the world is your oyster. Don’t give up.
(Stay tuned for the follow up to this article where we will address how to follow up after an interview.)