Rejected From A Job? Here's How To Craft The Perfect Reply (And Why It's So Crucial)

Sending your resume and CV out into the abyss of the job-hunting world will inevitably result in some rejection letters. The first few rejections may feel par for the course, but when more and more come trickling in, it can be easy to start seeing each letter as a genuine personal attack. Your mind may start spinning with questions like "Why am I not enough?" or "How did my qualifications not meet their standards?" Joe Vaccaro, Psy.D., told Cosmopolitan that we emotionally internalize rejection in our professional life in the same we would experience rejection socially. Therefore, it's important to take those letters with a grain of salt and try not to let them affect your self-worth. The right job is out there and keeping your confidence up is imperative.

Sadly, when you find a job that checks every box and you spend hours perfecting your application, seeing that rejection in your email will sting. The truth is, you may not always know why you were rejected from a position. If your application was for a dream job, it can be a hard pill to swallow. However, wouldn't it be nice if you did know exactly why you were passed over for that perfect position? Just think about how much it could help you prepare for your next interview.

So, instead of letting a rejection letter collect dust in your inbox, accept that rejection gracefully, and respond to the employer to ask a few specific questions.

While it can be easy to get bitter or disagree with an employer's choice to pass on pursuing your application further, keeping a level head and trying to see the bigger picture is all a part of the process. Finding the right job can make you feel very vulnerable because you are constantly putting yourself and your skills out there to be judged. However, from the employer's perspective, finding the right employee is like looking for a single puzzle piece. There are many factors that play into a hiring team's decision. Therefore, your goal with a rejection letter is to better understand where your skills didn't align.

According to Life Hacker, every rejection letter should be seen as an opportunity to learn and grow by asking the employer for information regarding your resume or your interview. Allowing those who interviewed you to share what you were missing or why a different candidate was a better fit for the job will give you valuable tools to better market yourself in that industry.

Therefore, a rejection reply letter should include an expression of gratitude for the hiring manager's time and two important questions. The first is to kindly ask if there is any feedback they are willing to provide to help give you a better understanding of what skills need to be developed in order to improve your chances of future employment. Secondly, inquire about the possibility of remaining connected, and if you are open to other positions at the company, feel free to mention that. You never know what doors could open when you put that idea out there.

While the mental strain of unemployment can make you feel desperate at times, turning to self-help books after losing your job is much healthier than oversharing your emotions with employers. At the end of the day, hiring decisions are business transactions and companies are simply trying to find the best candidate for the job. While rejections can feel personal, asking for feedback in an objective and professional way is the best route. Although it can cause some insecurities to come out, getting rejected from a job that you weren't fully qualified for makes sense. However, when your qualifications match the job description perfectly, it can be frustrating and confusing. That's why gaining clarity through your reply is crucial.

According to Hive, many companies are hiring internally these days which can make it much harder to break into the industry you're interested in. There also may have been other applicants who exceeded the job requirements. Another reason why it's important not to take rejection personally is that it could be due to something as logistical as the budget. If your previous job paid more than a company had budgeted for a new position, you were likely overqualified.

Truly understanding how well your resume represents your qualifications and skill set is necessary in order to receive more offers moving forward. While having another person look over your applications can be helpful, receiving that feedback from professionals in the industry is invaluable.