Articles : Tips on Handling Rejection

As a job seeker, you are bound to come across a few rejections along the way.

But if you’ve been struggling with rejections for a while, it’s hard not to think that there may be something wrong with your resume or the way you interviewed. And it can be especially hard when you’re worried about your financial situation like paying your bills or mortgage.

Below we have provided you with some tips on how you can cope with rejection and how you can use it to your advantage.

1. You’re not the only one.
Remember that you aren’t the only one struggling to find a job. Especially with the pandemic, a lot of people have lost their jobs, which means a lot of people are out searching for something else. Even just recognizing that a lot of people feel stressed and anxious about not finding work and understanding of what you are going through can really help.

2. It’s not the right time.
Sometimes it’s just about timing. Maybe the company you’re looking to work at already had someone else in mind, perhaps they hired internally, or maybe they decided to put hiring on hold. Whatever the reason is, sometimes it’s just not meant to be and that’s okay.

3. Make some changes.
Look over your cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn profile and reflect if you need to make any adjustments. Maybe it’s not what you’ve listed as your skills, but perhaps the way you convey your experience – and it can make a huge difference.

• Avoid listing your responsibilities at your last job. Instead, describe how you performed those responsibilities.
• Are you using LinkedIn to network with hiring managers and recruiters?
• Are you including all your skills or narrowing it down to a few key skills that better reflect the position you are applying to?

4. Be careful about your expectations.
What do we mean by this? Don’t allow yourself to be happy only if you get the job – you have to celebrate some wins along the way.

• Celebrate getting an interview.
• Get excited about making it to the second round of interviews.
• Feel good about yourself if you feel like you had a really great interview.

You can be grateful for other milestones in the overall process and it will help you to stay positive along the way.

5. Take a break.
Don’t consume yourself with applying to jobs and going to interviews day in and day out. We know that you want to find a job as quickly as possible, but you also don’t want to burn yourself out in the process of looking for one.

Take breaks along the way:

• Get outside and enjoy some fresh air.
• Take some time to exercise.
• Take up or get back to some of your hobbies.

Conclusion
Finding a job is never easy, but if you focus on what you can control – staying positive, being adaptable, and taking needed breaks – you can help cope with your feelings of stress and anxiety along the way.

For more career tips and advice, you can watch all our videos on our TorontoJobs.ca YouTube Channel here.

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TorontoJobs.ca is a full-service recruitment organization, including TorontoJobs.ca Website, Career Fairs, full-service Recruitment Division and Outplacement Services. The local focus and advanced features make TorontoJobs.ca a vital asset for both job seekers and employers within the Greater Toronto Area. Visit our Online Career Centre for additional articles on Career Development, Personal Branding and more.