Turning a job rejection into a positive when applying for graduate roles

Turning a job rejection into a positive when applying for graduate roles This post was written by an external contributor. Millie Pritchard breaks down the key things you can do to turn an interview rejection into a positive. You’ve found a job opening that seems too good to be true. Maybe it’s the dream position you’ve always wanted, working for a company you’ve always wanted to be a part of, or even if it simply has flexible hours but for one reason or another, things don’t go to plan… Job rejection is something all of us will go through, and it can feel like the end of the world, especially if you were really excited about the position. It often leads to a period of self-doubt and beating yourself up about what you could have written on the application form or said in the interview. It’s difficult to get out of the rut that job rejection puts you in, but I’m going to highlight the positive aspects that an experience like this can offer you, so you can bounce back stronger than ever! Re-evaluate the situation Rather than thinking about the application process in reference to ‘what I could’ve done’, think about it in terms of ‘what can I do next time?’ The job market is constantly flowing and there’s bound to be another similar, if not even better, role that comes up. Is there anything you could do that would possibly give you the edge over other candidates in the future? Perhaps conduct some research into courses that could give you extra qualifications in the field you are interested in, or take a class on interview skills. Even asking a family or friend to partake in a fake job interview to give you pointers could be useful. If you’re a student, booking a session with your university’s career advisor could be very beneficial, as they would be able to highlight any areas of your applications that you could work on. Dont beat yourself up Getting angry at yourself for not being successful in your application for a job will not solve anything. Being proactive about what you could work on in order to secure the next opportunity that arises as mentioned above, would be of much more benefit. Yes, you may feel like you want to lay in bed and eat your weight in ice cream, but you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and get yourself back out there. You’ve got this, and you know you’ve got this… You just need to realise and remind yourself of your worth. You are capable of doing so many great things and this one failed application doesn’t change that in the slightest. Trust that you are where youre meant to be Job rejection, although a horrible thing, gives you the perfect opportunity to self-reflect and grow in terms of your career, but also as a person. So you lost out on a job you were excited about it simply wasn’t meant to be, and that’s okay. It just means there are a thousand other doors opening for you. The age-old idea of rejection pushing you towards bigger and better things is completely and utterly true, even if it is somewhat cheesy. I am fully confident that you will get to where you want to be, even if its in a way in which you didn’t at first realise was possible. Don’t be put off trying in the future as a result of rejection -use rejection to push yourself forward. Download Debut  and connect with us  on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.