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In a recent HigherEdJobs survey, many job seekers reported that fear of rejection was what they disliked most about job searches. What’s worse is that an overwhelming number of participants reported never even receiving a rejection letter from a prospective employer. They’re left wondering about the status of their application, only to assume they’ve been rejected after months of no communication.
Regardless of the form in which rejection comes, it can be a tough pill to swallow. And yet, it is a natural part of the path to success.
Stephen King’s novel “Carrie” was rejected by 30 publishers before he finally received an offer from Doubleday. George Lucas’s pitch for Star Wars was turned down by Walt Disney Studios and Universal Studios before it was picked up by 20th Century Fox. And before getting signed to EMI’s Parlophone label, The Beatles were rejected by Decca Records.
Moving forward after these perceived failures and building resiliency is the key to achieving greater heights in our careers. So how can we face our rejections with grace and grow as a result?
Put It into Perspective
As disheartening as rejection is, the reality is it’s not always about you.
As Luke Ritter, an assistant professor of American History at New Mexico Highlands University, puts it: “Rejection from an academic search committee is not a fair testament of your scholarly abilities; it is, rather, a reflection of the absurdly competitive nature of the academic job market.”
The same applies to administrative and executive positions on campus.
“Once [the committee has] narrowed it down to about 10 applicants, none of these finalists are weak in ANY way,” Ritter continues. “Consider the odds.”
Consider Responding and Asking for Feedback
You might be tempted to ignore the rejection email (if you received one), but a brief ‘thank you’ email is advisable — especially if you still have interest in the college. You might also be able to get some feedback on why you weren’t selected for the job. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
“The worst they can do is not respond to the email,” says Will Fenton, a higher ed professional who recently wrapped up a months-long job search and is now serving as the associate director of graduate admissions for the Fox School of Business at Temple University. “I received some great, actionable advice from a couple of conversations I had after receiving a rejection email. But more importantly, I also received information that the selected candidate had skills/knowledge that I didn’t possess.”
Knowing that you did everything you could may help. It also sheds light on skills to develop that might improve your chances for success.
Assess Your Application and Interview Performance
A rejection provides an opportunity for an honest self-assessment, though it may be best to wait until the initial sting has passed.
“We’ve all heard the popular phrase ‘rejection is re-direction,’” says Dr. Aditi Paul, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University. “When our application is rejected — at the resume stage, the interview stage, or the negotiation stage — before powering through to the next application or next interview, we must take time to reflect and question ourselves: ‘What part of the process might use some re-direction?'”
Are there more keywords you can use on your resume? Were there interview questions you struggled to answer?
If you find room for improvement, create a game plan for addressing the problems. Fenton recommends talking to a trusted advisor who can help you overcome these challenges.
“Practicing what to say and how to say it can help you really figure out exactly how best to phrase things or describe actions that will showcase your skills and experiences,” he says. “It took me talking to at least four or five different folks to figure out the best answer for what happened in my last full-time position, and that included feedback I received after one rejection email.”
Give Yourself Grace
A job search can be all-consuming, especially when it lasts for months. Rejections only make it worse, but you can’t let it get the best of you. Give yourself grace. Forgive yourself for any mistakes along the way. Staying positive is key if you’re going to sustain a job search.
“One of my favorite videos of all time, with over 123 million views as of 2022, lives on YouTube under the title, Baby Laughing Hysterically at Ripping Paper (Original),” Ritter shares. “The father ripping those letters was my former colleague at Saint Louis University, and those letters were job rejections. At the time, he faced the herculean task of finding gainful employment as a history professor in academia.”
“Give it time,” he advises. “Over the years and after hundreds of applications, you will rise to the top and increase your chances of being hired.”
Remember
Rejection can sting, and you deserve a chance to grieve the loss of ‘what could have been.’ Forgive yourself and rip those letters up (even metaphorically) if it feels good. Then, glean what lessons you can from the experience and let them illuminate your path onward and upward.
Disclaimer: HigherEdJobs encourages free discourse and expression of issues while striving for accurate presentation to our audience. A guest opinion serves as an avenue to address and explore important topics, for authors to impart their expertise to our higher education audience and to challenge readers to consider points of view that could be outside of their comfort zone. The viewpoints, beliefs, or opinions expressed in the above piece are those of the author(s) and don’t imply endorsement by HigherEdJobs.
