After days or weeks of getting ready for that job interview, few things are more crushing than learning you haven’t been successful in getting the role. Rejection is difficult to deal with in any part of life, but it can be particularly upsetting when you’re striving for the perfect job in your sector and have already invested time and emotion in preparing for it.

However, rejection is also a common part of the job searching process. Learning how to respond productively to a lost job opportunity is the way to ensure you keep focused on your job search, learn from any ‘mistakes’ that may have been made, and fine-tune your approach.

Here’s what you can do turn interview rejection to your advantage.

Step 1: Ask Yourself if the Role Was What You Really Wanted

First, it’s worth asking whether the role was right for you in the first place – despite the fact that the hiring manager has obviously seen ‘a fit’ somewhere in the application process. When you’re keen to take the next step in your career, you might start applying for just “close enough” roles to what you really want rather than seeking the ideal role.

Perhaps you were attracted to certain aspects of the position but were a little concerned about the company culture. Maybe you were happy about the opportunity to find your first job in your field, but the position in question didn’t really give you much scope to showcase your skills.

If you weren’t particularly passionate about the job in the first place, there’s a good chance the hiring manager picked up on that fact. Maybe you rushed through the research stage of preparing for the interview or failed to leave a lasting impression.

Ask yourself whether this role was right for you and going forward, apply only for the positions you truly care about as that will motivate you to showcase the best version of yourself during your next interview. Or better yet, eliminate the source of your job-searching frustrations altogether and get the help of a recruitment agency. This can be a game-changer in multiple ways, as it will not only save you a lot of valuable time but also remove any need to settle for roles that are less than ideal. Our team at Clayton Recruitment are experienced in helping candidates navigate the job market and work with them every step of the way to help further their careers. From the job searching process right through to even after you’ve secured your new position, we’re there to give you all the support you need.

Step 2: Brush up on Your Interview Confidence

If you did have all the necessary experience for the role, the problem could be with your technique. Lack of confidence during an interview is a common reason why around 40% of candidates don’t make it past the first interview stage.

Look back over the conversation you had. Were you constantly fidgeting, looking down at your CV, or failing to make eye contact? Your body language in an interview can say a lot about your kind of person and how confident you feel in your abilities.

Try practising with a friend or colleague to prepare for your next interview. Make a list of common interview questions similar to the ones you were asked in your last interview, and practice responding to them. But more importantly, practice demonstrating an air of positive self-esteem. Sit straight, keep your hands still, and make eye contact regularly. A smile can go a long way in an interview too.

Step 3: Look for Ways to Improve Your Answers

When you’ve figured out how to improve on your non-verbal communication, it’s time to reflect on what you did (or didn’t) say during your interview. Take the time to go back over it in your head and ask yourself where you struggled.

Were there certain questions you didn’t have a good response to? If so, you can practice generating relevant answers. Think about any competency-based questions you might have been asked and your answers to them. Did you give enough practical examples to showcase the skills the hiring manager is looking for? If not, then take the time now to incorporate them into your answers as this will give you a far better chance of convincing potential employers of your suitability for any role you might be interviewed for in future.

You may also have failed to make the right impression because you didn’t have enough information about the company you applied for. Around 47% of candidates fail their interviews because they haven’t done enough research. Learning as much as possible about the company before you start applying for roles will help you tailor your answers and CV to their needs.

However, if you did indeed do your research and ensured your responses reflected that then the problem may be how knowledgeable you came across to the hiring manager about your field in general. Employers want to know what you can do to make their company stand out from the competition and showcasing knowledge about their competitors or about current trends in the industry will go a long way in convincing hiring managers that you have the necessary commercial awareness they’re looking for.

Now is a good time to ensure that you have this up-to-date knowledge and if you want to really put yourself ahead of the competition, do whatever research you can beyond the general information that’s easily found on the internet as other candidates will also have access to that.

Step 4: Respond to the Rejection (The Right Way)

Finally, a good way to improve your chances of success in upcoming interviews is to respond to your interviewer after they send you the rejection message. Thank the company for their time, and they’ll be more likely to think of you positively if you apply for roles with the same business. What’s more, this is a great chance to ask for feedback.

If you’re not sure exactly what you did wrong during the conversation, request a little bit of detailed information on why they chose someone other than you. This will not only help you to highlight the areas you need to address before beginning your next job search, but will also help you to create a solid improvement plan in conjunction with your recruitment agency. They can use the feedback you received from the employer to offer advice on how best to proceed and what to improve on for next time.

Time to Rethink Your Approach?

There are many routes to applying for new roles – whether that’s through general advertising online, or approaching businesses directly, however utilising the services of a specialist recruitment agency can pay dividends when it comes to gaining general market knowledge and understanding what opportunities there are in your specific region or sector.

What’s more, many recruiters will work with you throughout the interview process – ensuring you feel fully prepared with things like your CV and covering letters/emails, as well as specific information relating to the hiring manager or Director/CEO who will be interviewing you, typical questions being asked, and general expectations.

Our team at Clayton Recruitment for example have over 25 years’ experience in helping candidates navigate the job market and work with them every step of the way to prepare and ace their interviews.

And, whilst rejection after an interview is a sign you need to brush up on your interview skills and confidence, sometimes it is simply a case of another candidate better suited to the role in question. With any luck, you will have other irons in the fire, and interviews lined up to attend  – so it’s incredibly important not to feel too defeated or disheartened. Instead, put the time already spent on prepping and researching to good use in the inevitable next interview.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been helping professionals across the country navigate the job market and further their careers since 1989, and during that time has built up an excellent reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, and Engineering appointments, on a permanent basis.

Whether you are looking for your next career move, or your next hire as a business owner of HR professional – we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121.