Career Services in Coda! [Katie Rivard]

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Career Services in Coda! [Katie Rivard]

Job Offers & Negotiations

Lesson: How to Deal With Rejection

5 minute read

At points in your life, you'll experience rejection. Whether it's through building new relationships or finding a job, it's hard not to get down when it happens.

However, rejection isn't a sign of weakness or being unworthy. It's simply a part of life. Knowing how to overcome these challenges will only help you during your job hunt phase.

If you receive a "no" from an employer regarding one of your applications, don't blame yourself and try to find fault in your methods. Consider your strengths, and use them to help you in future applications.

Don't take rejection personally. This is important to not second guess your decision in becoming a designer. If you don't get selected for a position, it simply means you were not the proper fit at the time, or that the company decided not to fill the position at all. There may be numerous reasons why you weren't hired, but it shouldn't deter you from submitting application in the future.

Most job seekers will receive 24 "no's" before getting a "yes", according to research from career coach and author Orville Pierson. Because of this discovery, you should get comfortable with the word "no". While it may not be the answer you're hoping for, it doesn't mean you're not worthy.

If you get rejected for a position, you should reflect on your interviews and the application you submitted. Work with your Career Coach on discovering ways to improve your communication skills to better sell yourself to employers. Get feedback on your resume, cover letter, and continue to polish your portfolio to present yourself as the ideal candidate companies can't live without.

You should also request feedback from the people you interview with. It doesn't mean they will provide insight into how you did or what you could improve on, but sometimes hiring managers will give you more information on why you weren't selected and someone else was. This can help you determine how to improve for future interviews as well.

If you feel the burnout of being rejected, it's OK to take time off. You should take a step back, revise your approach, and then get back to the job hunt. The breather doesn't have to be long — no more than a few days — but it can provide much-needed clarity.

Remember that nothing worth having comes easy. While rejection can be exhausting, facing that adversity will only help you to continue pushing until you find the right opportunity specifically made for you.

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