How to Handle Job Interview Rejection
Job search lessons learned from “He’s Just Not That into You”
Breaking up is tough. No matter when it comes, no matter what the circumstances, no one wants to feel rejected or unwanted. Much like dating, there are few things worse than building yourself up for the thrill of starting a new job, only to be let down by an employer. Sometimes you’re formally notified that they’re not interested, but sometimes you’ll have to break out your copy of “He’s Just Not That into You” to decipher the code.
Chapter 1: “He’s just not that into you if he’s not asking you out.”
Translation: You applied, they didn’t call.
You’ve sent out all the signals to let them know you’re interested: you applied online, wrote an awesome cover letter, everything. They’re just not picking up on your signals and for whatever reason, they haven’t called you back. Sorry, you aren’t what they’re looking for. It’s okay. There are a lot of fish in the sea! But this particular fish just isn’t that into you.
Chapter 9: “He’s just not that into you if he’s disappeared on you.”
Translation: You interviewed, they didn’t call.
You had your first date interview and it was great. You wore your favorite outfit and you had great chemistry, but now they aren’t calling you back. It happens to the best of us. Sometimes they just don’t feel the spark, or maybe they were looking around and found a better match. Give it a week or two, but if they haven’t called you back, they’re just not that into you.
Chapter 10: “He’s just not that into you if he’s married (and other insane variations of being unavailable).”
Translation: Are they really even hiring?
Sometimes employers like to play it safe and put up a “Help Wanted” sign when they don’t have a position open at the moment. This is called proactive hiring, and it’s a lot like dating around. They want to keep it casual and explore their options, but they might not really have a permanent position available. They may call you when you least expect it; but if all signs should be pointing to “yes” and their answer is still “no,” then they’re just not that into you.
Like any relationship gone awry, the best thing you can do is get back out there. There’s no time to wallow in self-pity about a job that just wasn’t a good fit. You’ve got to keep looking and eventually, you’ll find a job that’s a perfect match!