3 Ways To Respond When You Get Rejected For A Job

As seen on Forbes.

As the job market continues to be more competitive, landing a job is not an easy feat despite great efforts in crafting your resume and acing your interviews. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the U.S. is currently at 3.9%, equivalent to 6.5 million people. 

If you’ve been applying to job openings recently, receiving a rejection through email may not be surprising anymore. People respond differently to these rejections. Some just ignore and keep moving forward to other applications, but you can do these 3 things instead: 

1. Write A Thank You Email

How you respond to a job rejection email says a lot about you. Most candidates would disregard the message and leave it as is, but I recommend you reply with a thank you note. Express gratitude for the time they took to review your application and to keep in touch for future opportunities.

End the whole job application conversation pleasantly because you’ll never know if they have another role available; they can go for people they already know and like. It also keeps you in their network and radar, and hiring managers tend to remember candidates who display exceptional courtesy and professionalism. 

Do also take note that some companies just ghost applicants if they’re not fit for the role, so the fact that they sent you a rejection email shows that they don’t like to keep their applicants hanging, which could be a good sign of the company’s values. 

2. Ask Them To Reconsider Your Application 

You don’t always have to simply accept the rejection, you can even challenge it by setting a rebuttal email for them to reconsider your application. Make sure to establish your case by mentioning pertinent skills that the role requires and how you are a great fit for the company. Use insights you gathered through research, interviews, and networking to build your case further. 

If you’ve developed a good relationship with whom you’ve interviewed before, you can also ask to schedule a call to figure out what’s getting in the way of them hiring you or how you work around it. 

Career marketplace Dice advises to keep in mind that they might have already offered the role to someone else, so give the employer some leeway to consider you for similar or related roles or in a different team. Throughout this appeal, be respectful in your request, and make sure to build a strong case as to why you’re the ideal candidate for the role or the company. 

3. Refer A Friend

Another way to gracefully respond to a rejection email is by helping the company out by referring a friend who could be fit for the role. In your reply, thank the company for the feedback or for getting back to you on the progress of your application. Let them know you understand their decision, but also mention that you know someone they can consider for the role and give them the contact information of that friend. 

Employee referral data shows that candidates who are referred are 4x more likely to get hired, yielding a good ROI for employers. So, you’re not only doing a favor for the friend to land a job, but the employer too to find a good candidate for the role. You never know, they might remember your good deed and return the favor in the future. 

Getting that “Thank you for your interest in the job…” email could be frustrating, but it’s a vital learning opportunity where you can showcase grace in how you respond. Maintain professionalism, seek feedback, and ask them to reconsider your application. But if it goes south, turn this setback into an opportunity to remain in their network. 

Remember that the right opportunity is out there and each rejection only brings you closer to finding the perfect fit.