... you don't get offered the job?

 

OK... it's not nice. You've been through the mill and you're hoping you've made it. Then you get the call, or the email or the letter to say thanks but no thanks. It happens. But what's important is how you deal with it.

 

Dealing with rejection is one of the hardest emotions that humans go through. And with interviews, the personal nature of it makes it all the more pointed.

 

Realisation

 

They haven't selected you. Whatever the reasons, the result is the same. You haven't been selected.

 

Reflection

 

OK... maybe it wasn't for you; maybe you didn't do as well as you could have; maybe you could have done this; maybe you could have done that. It changes nothing. The decision has been made.

 

Action

 

The most usual course is "they can stuff it." However, if you really wanted the job it would be better to accept the decision graciously. Write a letter back thanking them for the opportunity and re-iterating how much you would have liked to become part of their organisation and if circumstances change you would be delighted to be re-considered.

 

Remember! Until a contract is signed and the selected candidate is well installed things can change. People sometimes get a counter-offer from their exisiting employer when they hand in their notice or they simply decide, on reflection, that this is not for them. Or their references don't stack up. In fact, there can be a host of reasons as to why the person selected for the position does not take it up.

 

Moral? Don't burn your bridges! Keep lines of communication open: but don't wait forever!! Have an action plan.

 

Character

 

This is where you find your true character. A quote from the film "Wall Street"...

 

"Just remember something. Man looks in the abyss and there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment man finds his character, and that's what keeps him out of the abyss."

 

Your character will keep you out of the abyss you may see when failing to land that job. You pick yourself up AND YOU FIGHT ON! There is always another job but it's now that you need strength of mind, determination to succeed and a plan of action.

 

Of course in an ideal world you would have more than one opportunity lined up. As someone said to me recently "get as liquid as you can into the funnel; all you need is one drop to come out."

 

But in todays world that is less than likely to be the case. Not improbable, just less likely. So... go back to basics. Review what you think went wrong. List the positives. List the negatives. Re-visit your motives for looking in the first place if you already have a job. If you're out of work... go back to basics. do all the things that got you the interview in the first place because they obviously work!

 

Can I suggest that you invest in "How to Sell & Market YOU!" because in it there is a complete sales course plus the Competency Wheel - a really powerful way in which to look at how you measure up in the "qualities employers look for" stakes.