Using Job Rejection to Empower Your IT Career

Almost all of us have been rejected from a job we’ve applied to. In fact, despite New Zealand’s unemployment rate at its lowest in six years, securing a job isn’t a given.

Finding a new role in the IT industry can be a painfully long process, which can make post-interview job rejection leave you deflated and disheartened. But knowing how to handle this rejection whilst taking feedback on board, is key to moving forward in your job search and making yourself more appealing to employers.

Job Rejection is Not Personal, It’s Process

The interview process isn’t personal to employers and it shouldn’t be to you either. Avoid falling in love with a job description, even if it’s your dream job. Just in the same way you sell yourself during an interview, employers can sometimes over-sell the position. This makes it imperative that you properly weigh up the pros and cons before you start envisioning yourself working for the employer, which can result in the rejection hitting you twice as hard.

In fact, it’s likely that after reviewing the vacancy, you may be less convinced the employer’s culture or working environment was the right fit for you, and being rejected could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Whilst being a blessing for you, not choosing to hire you could turn out to be a mistake for the employer; as a staggering 95% of employers admit making bad hires every year.

Despite making it through the application process and various interviews, receiving a phone call from your Recruiter regretfully informing you that you didn’t get the role is when you are most in danger of letting rejection cripple your job hunting efforts. Whilst it’s only natural to question whether you did something wrong when talking to the employer face-to-face, it’s actually far more likely not to be a reflection of you as a professional, as employers fill more than 41% vacancies with internal candidates.

When Asking for Feedback

When you receive that dreadful rejection call, the first question on your mind should be; should I ask for feedback? If you think it can help you refine your skills or help you come across more confident in an interview, then the answer should always be yes.

Feedback is an excellent way to further yourself as a candidate, and if you’re not using a recruitment agency then you need to carefully consider the way you approach an employer. The golden rule of thumb is the timeless phrase we were taught as children: ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.’

Remember, this is still a business communication and it can have an impact on your personal brand. It’s a good idea to always start by thanking the employer for the opportunity to learn more about them and their role, and end by asking them to keep you in mind should a position that better fits your experience come up.

Keep in mind that you’re asking for feedback, not a second chance, as interviewers are most likely to make their decisions within the first 15 minutes of you walking through the door. However, if their first choice is no longer available, you’ll be in their mind.

Improving Through Self-Evaluation

The feedback you receive is a great tool for self-improvement. If you find out you lack certain experience or skills, that gives you the opportunity to look at how to acquire them. Alternatively, you may have a problem with how you interview, such as talking too much without really answering the interviewer’s question. In this case, you could listen to their feedback and better prepare yourself for the next time you’re in this position.

You can cut out the process of asking an employer for feedback altogether by using a recruitment agency. If you are rejected from a role you interviewed for, your Recruitment Consultant will notify you over the phone and discuss your options going forward, as well as any available feedback.

Although, not every employer will offer you feedback on request, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something from your experience. Self-evaluation is another particularly important part of improving yourself.

An interviewer will attempt to focus on your key strengths and weaknesses to get a complete picture of you. Ask yourself if they seemed satisfied with your answers or did they keep pushing the same question? Were they focusing on a particular section of your work history or skills? Paying attention to what questions they ask you can provide good indicators to what you may need to improve on.

However, if you find yourself being rejected before having a chance to talk to an employer then you may have an issue with your CV, and should consider the assistance of a specialist Recruiter to help secure an interview.

Summary

Being rejected when you’re just looking for a chance to prove yourself or wanting to move on with your career can hugely impact your confidence and motivation, but don’t think you’re alone. Most of us have been rejected for a job we wanted, but remember that every rejection is an opportunity to learn and move forward stronger.

As a specialised and experienced IT recruitment agency offering guidance to IT professionals in Christchurch, Sourced can help you overcome job rejection and move your career forward. If you need help with your CV, interview technique or you’re just in need of general advice on your IT career, get in touch with one of our specialist Recruiters today.