How to Handle Rejection and Doubt During Your Job Search

This week, the our resume builder team provides answers to some questions about handling rejection and doubt during your job search.

Question

I’ve been rejected from a job I really, really wanted. How can I find out what I did wrong?

Answer

The same way you get an answer to any question on any subject: by asking. Ask your potential employer what you could have done differently, but don’t expect a response. Employers may fear sending the wrong message or setting themselves up for an argument. If you get an answer that sounds meaningful, take it to heart and use it to shape your job search. If not, take another look at your resume, polish your interview skills, and recognize that you probably didn’t do anything wrong. The odds weren’t in your favor this time. Just move on.

Question

I’ve worked very hard on my resume, but I still feel like something is missing. I have all the credentials required for the type of job I’m pursuing, but I still feel like there may be other candidates who have more to offer than I do. What should I do?

Answer

You may be right, but don’t worry about this. Your job search and your career development are not team sports, and (as strange as it may sound in our modern culture) they aren’t competitive sports, either. This is your own race. As you run, concentrate on beating your own time, and don’t worry about what the other runners are doing. Use the credentials you’ve already earned to make your resume as strong as it can possibly be. As you move forward, always look for opportunities to grow, gain new skills, and learn more about your industry and the world around you. Establish goals that have real meaning and value to you not to anybody else and pursue those goals with everything you have. Call upon your patience, your determination, and your instincts. It won’t hurt to improve your resume with our Resume Builder, either.