You will be rejected. You will have passive rejections, when people forget lunch meetings, or do not return your calls or emails. You won’t get interviews you thought you should, and you won’t even get a glance from jobs that you know you are qualified for. With the high unemployment rates, we have to get used to the fact that this unfortunately is normal. The reality is that there are far too many résumés flying around. Recruiters and hiring managers can’t always filter or interpret them all
accurately, quickly, or both. What you do with this rejection is another story.
When your phone is silent and your email inbox is empty, are you following up with past requests? When turned down, are you asking for feedback to become better the next time? Are you asking for suggestions for other possible leads? On several occasions, I was told that “other candidates were more qualified,” that I was “over-qualified,” or that I was “under-qualified,” depending on the job and the people I was working through. In my conversations, I asked questions and was curious. The
conversations that ensued led to times when I became considered for other similar roles, or for lines of businesses within that company that were not previously on the radar screen. I had circumstances when I was reconsidered after further discussion. My thinking is that one person creates an opinion of you based on the block of time that you spoke. Asking questions and possibly involving more people can get your name around, create new context to the conversation, and more importantly, keep you relevant. The goal is not to be over-the-top and in-your-face with the approach. The aim is to be curious, develop, and learn something for the
next time around. If the next time around happens to create a path for you, you can look at it as a bonus opportunity. Even asking questions as simple as, “Who else should I talk to?” can turn rejection into your friend immediately. Rejection: expect it, learn from it, and then use it to move forward.
As a side note, you do need to understand that some people and companies may not discuss the “whys” of their decision-making process. Whether it is out of fear of being sued for discrimination, misinterpretation, or other reasons, it’s important not to be discouraged if a request for feedback goes unanswered or is answered unsatisfactorily. The fact that you asked the question gave you the potential to gather some information to make you better, and is better than not asking at all.
Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):
- Down the Chute: A Toboggan Tale (children’s book for ages 4-10 years old)
- Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
- Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
- Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
- The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
- From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
- The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood
See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com