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"Fall seven times, stand up eight." - Japanese proverb
Staying motivated is always tough, but it certainly gets easier when you start seeing results. That's why staying positive during a job search can be extremely difficult, especially when you're faced with repeated rejection and rarely receive any feedback. However, according to Candace Davies, ACCC, CRW, CIC, CPRW, CEIP, CECC, president and founder of Cando Career and Resume Writing, when you receive a job rejection, the most important thing to remember is to remain positive and believe that "one more job rejection is one step closer to a job offer."
So how can you keep your spirits up when you keep getting knocked down? Consider the following tips the next time you're turned down for a job ... again.
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Don't take it personally. Jan Gordon, LCSW, executive, career and personal coach ( http://www.qualitycoaching.com/), advised that you don't use the job interview as a measure of your professional worth. The decision to not hire you was based on the company's specific criteria and needs, which may or may not have anything to do with how you showed up at the interview. That you weren't the perfect match doesn't mean that you're not an outstanding professional with excellent attributes and talents.
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 Get direct feedback about why you were not selected. Getting feedback from the hiring manager, HR or the recruiter, company insiders and/or the person in your network who introduced you to the job can help you understand why you weren't a fit and help you prepare for your next interview. For example, if you learn you lacked a specific skill, consider if you truly lack that skill, or if you failed to bring it out in the interview, said Carrie Krueger, vice president at Jobfully.com. If you lack the skill, is it worth learning it? If you failed to highlight it, you now have direct evidence of how such an oversight can cost you and you won't make that mistake next time. -
Don't bring up the past. Rejection has a way of drudging up all our past failures, as well as all the negative feelings associated with the failures. Gordon advised that you stay present; don't let the past take over.
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Surround yourself with the right people. Keeping company with positive people who can provide timely morale boosts will improve your confidence to get back out there. Hiring a career coach, for example, is perfect for people who want to increase their confidence in a supportive environment. It enables you to formulate a targeted action plan and take the necessary steps to move toward your goals.
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Ask yourself questions. Ask yourself questions so you will learn from the experience, Gordon suggested. For example, what did you learn from the interviewing process? How would you have handled yourself differently? By asking questions, you focus on learning and growth and consequently move forward.
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Keep it in perspective. Being rejected doesn't mean that your professional qualifications and personal attributes are anything less than spectacular, Gordon noted. Employers weigh many considerations when recruiting staff, so many of these factors are beyond your control. Keep it in perspective; their decision doesn't necessarily reflect on you.
Finally, remember that you're not the only one who has been turned down for a job and don't forget that career setbacks are temporary. Believing that the best is yet to come is a sure-fire way to increase your value in the job market.
Lisa A. Brzezicki is an editor at ADVANCE. She can be reached at lbrzezicki@advanceweb.com
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