How to Handle Rejection in an Interview?

Congratulations! You have been selected for the interview!

You receive this email and jump with excitement. This is exactly the kind of organisation you want to work with and now that you have got an opportunity for an interview with them you are super excited. You make sure that you inform your family and friends about it, who also wish the very best for you. You have been preparing for this and now decide on what you need to do before the interview:

- Prepare interview questions

- Decide your dress

- Groom well

- Learn how to introduce yourself

- Be confident

- Ace the interview and get the job

You have ticked every point on the checklist above and appeared for the interview on the mentioned date.

Now is the time for results! But guess what?

You haven’t been selected. The interviewer has rejected you despite the preparation and hard work you have put in. And this has put you in a dark place. You feel your dream is shattered! After all, you were working hard for this and you were also prepared for this. You were so sure you would sail through this but now what?

It’s over now! Or is it?

Does one rejection or even multiple rejections for that matter in an interview make you a failure? No! And I am saying this out of the experience. You might have come across thousands of quotes and motivational videos and this is none of those.

Let’s talk rejections. Let’s ponder over the real reasons why an interviewer rejects you and what are some practical strategies that you may follow to nail that next interview of yours.

Rejection hurts and it feels awful, but it is not the end of the road for you.

The dejected feeling would be there for a few days and it could be handled if you follow these things:

Be Prepared – Understand that rejections are part of the process. Understand that going for the interview means you were already doing something right, you need to persist and prepare ahead now.

Don’t overthink or take it personally – A rejection in an interview doesn’t mean that you are a failure, it doesn’t validate you. A recruiter doesn’t know you personally, it is a business decision taking into consideration numerous factors. So, try to move on and focus ahead.

Take the Perspective – If you have been facing repeated rejections, it’s time for a reality check. Check your resume, preparation, and most importantly whether you are applying for the right job. Do your profile and skill set match the job? It’s time to get help from a career coach.

Stop comparing yourself – You honestly can’t compare your friend/family/colleague/XYZ getting a job immediately after their first interview. Maybe rejection is sometimes good for you in the hindsight that you realize later.

Be Persistent - Be persistent in preparation, applying for jobs, upgrading yourself, and appearing for more interviews till you get the right one.

Now, that you know what to do in case of a failure as well, go ahead and ace that interview!