It sounded like the perfect job, didn’t it?
It was the right position in the right company. It was the perfect location to commute to. It was the salary that you needed. It had the right opportunities for career progression and promotion. And those perks were pretty decent, too.
You thought you had it in the bag. Your application was pretty decent, your resume is thorough and you had your friends check it over for you. You even did great in your interview. You were just waiting for the phone call to say that you had got the job.
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Except, you didn’t.
Someone else got it.
What now? It is always like a stab in the heart to be rejected or overlooked for a job, even if it was less than perfect, but when it is your dream job, the disappointment can be unreal.
Here, we look at what you need to do if you didn’t get the job, so that next time, you do get it.
Allow yourself time to grieve
It sounds a little overdramatic, but if you had poured all of your time and energy into getting this job and had pinned all of your hopes on it, the sadness can be almost like grief, and it is absolutely fine to feel this way. Give yourself a day to get over it. Call in sick at your current job if necessary, curl up with some ice cream, tissues and have a box set binge, or do whatever it is that helps you to let out all the sadness and frustration. This is an important part of the process and will help you to move on.
Ask for feedback
When you are feeling a little bit more positive, reach out to the company. Thank them for the time and let them know you enjoyed meeting with them. Then, ask for some feedback. Most companies are more than happy to give you an idea of why you didn’t get the job. Quite often it is a case that you didn’t do anything wrong, it was just that someone else was more suited. However, it may be that they found out about that time when you were a bit silly at college and got into trouble – in which case, this free guide to clearing your name may help. It may be that they want someone they can mold to them better. Whatever the reason, the more you know, the better
Think about what attracted you to the job
Something made that job seem s perfect. What was it? You need to have an idea so that you can move onto applying for other jobs. It may have been that needle in the haystack, but look at the different elements and see what made it seem perfect. You may need to expand your horizons or be a little more flexible in some areas, but somewhere out there is the job for you.
Stop looking at your experience as something negative. Yes, it sucks that you didn’t get it. But use it as a stepping stone for something bigger and better, and don’t settle for anything less.
