25 July 2008
	FM Campus Recruitment Edition Bounce back from rejection By Mervyn Wetmore

Being passed over for that dream job is no reason to give up. Use the experience to turn yourself into a sharper candidate Quote: "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently" - Henry Ford (1863-1947), founder of the Ford Motor Company You've been checking the post box almost hourly for days after sending off your job application, checking for the envelope that will contain the invitation to an interview for that dream job. There it is, a much-fancier-than-usual envelope bearing the corporate logo of the firm you applied to. You open it confidently, only to read: "Dear John. We regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful" It is not what you were expecting. Can't they see what a good candidate you are? That you have the right qualifications and all the get-up-and-go in the world? Job-rejection shock is a fact of life. No matter how good a candidate you are, a rejection or two (or more) is inevitable. In tough and good economic times, organisations often have many more candidates to choose from and a host of options. But what are your options when facing rejection? Contact the organisation immediately and ask politely for feedback and constructive criticism. Ask questions like: "What did I lack in meeting your requirements?" Listen carefully to the answers. You won't always get helpful feedback, but when you do, try to correct misunderstandings about your application. Second, do a thorough audit of your job-search approach: Was your application material up to scratch? Did your cover letter, CV, supporting documents and referees inform, market and present you effectively for the application in question? Did you apply appropriately? Was the position at the appropriate level, in the right field and was your application made to the appropriate organisation and put together in the best way possible? Did you do your homework when applying? Did you know all about you - your strengths, weaknesses, education and unique selling points, what makes you tick and why you are the best person for the job? Did you know all about the job you were applying for - the qualifications, skills and competencies required to make a success of it? Did you know about the organisation you were applying to - its reason for being, products or services, culture, strengths and weaknesses? Did you dress and prepare appropriately for the interview? Did you take a copy of your application materials into the interview with you? In the interview, did you answer the interviewer's questions with insight, clarity and enthusiasm and did you have back-up evidence to illustrate your effectiveness? Did you prepare informed and relevant questions to ask the interviewer? Did you close the interview appropriately and show an interest in the job? After the interview, did you write thank you letters to the head of department in which you would be working as well as the human resources officer, showing appreciation for their interest in you, following through on any questions you were asked and reiterating your interest in the job? Run every aspect of your job search by friends and family members, your university's career service and even human resource practitioners, who may offer to assist you. Look in particular at your CV and ask trusted and knowledgeable people how you can improve it. Thinking through and discussing your job search in a constructive and proactive way will allow you to grieve over the loss of a potential job, express your anger and work through your disappointment. Being passed over for the job may have had nothing to do with you at all. You may not have been offered the job because there was a better, more qualified and more experienced candidate, or an applicant with a connection to the organisation. Build on all you have learnt up to now and, as difficult as it may be initially, try to keep your head high, be positive and start looking for new openings. Start by networking - more than 80% of jobs are never advertised - approach family and friends and then engineer your own contacts, broaden your approach, show your determination. Job searching requires dedication, a systematic approach and a great deal of time and focused effort. It's a job in itself. Persistence and constant improvement will soon land you the job you want! Mervyn Wetmore is the head of Rhodes University's career centre