How to Bounce Back If You Don’t Get the Job Offer
We’ve all been there, final interview stages and you’re confident you’ve got the role in the bag. When suddenly the position is offered to another candidate and you’re back to square one. Nothing more disheartening and discouraging.
A frustration many of us if not all of us are too familiar with, but one that unfortunately is part of the package of job hunting especially for senior and executive roles.
Don’t take it personally
Just shrugging it off is much easier said than done, according to phycologist Guy Winch, the pain of rejection is not so dissimilar to the pain of a physical injury. Although applying for a senior/ executive role you should have the idea that there are only a few roles and many more candidates, creating a thick skin can help you deal with the process and bounce back up.
Do not burn bridges, although you didn’t get the job offer staying on good terms with the hiring manager gives you a better chance on any future roles. You never know what will happen later down the line, keep things professional.
Reflect
How can you improve? Every interview is a learning curve, what went well? What didn’t go well? What could you do differently?
Reviewing all three of these questions will give you a balance to your interview. People tend to dwell on the negative and forget about any positives. Knowing your positives and where you are confident, is a great way to boost your confidence and bounce back after an interview. Once you have an understanding of what you are good at, you can now focus on what didn’t go well and how you can improve these.
Did I downplay my skills? Showcase your abilities and skills, being confident with them is not a negative. It will show that you know what you are doing and how to implement it. Although don’t be arrogant with it, find the balance between the two.
Did I show my true personality? People are not just hired based on skills, the organisation hiring also wants to know whether you will be a cultural fit. Showing that you are strong, can lead and influence can also give you an advantage especially applying for senior/ executive roles.
And ultimately did I apply got the right job? If you are constantly finding yourself in the same position, take a step back. Review your skillset, personality and passion do these match the roles you are applying for?
Once you have reviewed all the above you will have a better understanding of where you can make changes and what you can improve on.
You can’t influence everything
The hiring process is not a straightforward as it seems; create a job spec, find candidates, interviews and finally offer the role. Each one of those milestones can have many complications that are not your fault. There are many things that a hiring manager will have to consider, these can include; employee referrals, past candidates, candidates with connections. Internal politics relating to resource allocation, internal promotions and lateral moves as well as hiring freezes or budget blowouts can affect the process.
So, don’t overthink any of these factors as they are out of your control.
Keep up momentum
Stay positive! As one door closes, another door opens is always a good phrase to stick by. Keeping your options open is the best way to job search, even if you have an interview coming up you should continue to look and apply. If you are unsuccessful at your interview you still have more options, and if you have been offered the job there is no harm in turning down future interviews.
Check out our latest blog on Tips for when your job search isn’t working
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