You Didn't Get the Job. Now What?

Looking for a full-time job is already a full-time job in and of itself. You spend hours perusing LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed, your alma mater’s career services website, networking – all of the above. Then, finally, you find that one job (or maybe several), and spend another few hours writing your cover letter (even though it says “optional” – still write one!) and editing your resume so that the hiring manager/recruiter can see that you have what it takes to get the job done. You get the email to set up your first-round interview, prepare for it for days, review your behavioral question responses, and go through the first round (maybe it was 2, 3, or even 4 rounds). You’re feeling incredible: I got this. Only to find out…you didn’t get it. You think “WHAT could have possibly gone wrong?!” This is a common scenario that almost everyone goes through when job hunting. But what happens after you get that email or phone call informing you that you weren’t picked?

Here are a few things you can do to not let yourself get too upset, and realize that you DO have what it takes – maybe not for that job, but for one in the near future:

1. Ask for feedback: While some companies/recruiters don’t give feedback (and sometimes aren’t allowed to), others totally can. It’s worth it to send an email or ask over the phone “what can I do better for next time?” Maybe there was someone who had 2 more years of experience, and that’s the only reason why you didn’t get it. Maybe you never looked up during the interview and said “um” 4,321 times. Who knows – whatever it was, just ask, and see how you can improve for next time.

2. Check out your alma mater’s Career Services office: Most, if not all, colleges/universities have a Career Services office or an Alumni office with resources on job hunting, resume reviews, mock interviews, etc. Contact them to see what practice/resources are available to you so that you can potentially talk to someone about your options and how to land that job!

3. Apply to the jobs that are right for you: It can be easy to apply to anything we see, especially if it’s just one click, however, we may not always be qualified for those jobs that we are hitting “apply now” to every so often. Be sure that when you are job hunting, you are looking for the types of jobs that you actually want and have had some experience with at some point in your career. If you have zero chemistry in your background, don’t apply to be a chemist (I know, I know, common sense. But you’d be surprised…). If you’re unsure what you actually want to do, there are plenty of self-assessments to help guide you and help you see what skills you possess that maybe you forgot you have: Myers Briggs, Strong Interest Inventory, CliftonStrengths, MyIDP.

4. Network: This can be extremely helpful, especially if you know a lot of people, who also know a lot of people. Networking has definitely become a top way on how to get a job these days. Whether you’re setting up an informal coffee chat, or sitting on a park bench taking a sip of your Glacier Freeze Gatorade, networking can come in many forms, even a simple, quick conversation. This allows you to learn more about a specific field, job, person, and then in turn, they get to learn more about you, possibly asking for your resume and submitting it to the hiring manager/recruiter. If you’re not the most outgoing person, that’s okay – an email or a phone call is just as lucrative a networking moment as any other. Putting yourself out there is what counts, and what could potentially land you the job.

Meet the Author

Kevin Haines
Talent Consultant, Talent Solutions

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