The Sting of an Unexpected Rejection Letter Accelerated Learning Resources

The Sting of an Unexpected Rejection Letter

The most difficult part about a job search is the inevitable inbox full of rejections. It’s an unwelcome flashback to college application days that many people find hard to handle. When all goes well in your interviews and employers seem receptive to your ideas and aspirations, how do you deal with the realization that they’re just not that into you?

I interviewed with an esteemed national NGO a couple of weeks ago that seemed to be the perfect fit for me. I wasn’t expecting to be employed by the end of the year, but after a smooth and exciting second-round interview, I couldn’t help but be hopeful. After two rounds of interviews, I found that I liked the organization even more. Talking to representatives and discussing our common ideals and goals convinced me that I would fit in well at the organization and would love working there. Even though the salary was just barely enough to sustain a meager post-college existence, I was passionate enough about the job to jump right in.

Given the apparent success of my interviews and the extensive correspondence I had with the NGO’s representatives, I felt positive about my chances of landing the position. The e-mail from them wishing me luck for my future job search, therefore, came as a big disappointment. My rejection reminded me that it’s hard enough to find interviews in this market, let alone find a perfect job and land it. I also realized that the fact that a position offering a lower salary is not any easier to obtain.

As this semester comes to a close, I am as nervous as I am excited about what lies ahead. Next semester will be crunch time, and I am unsure as to how many employers are going to be out and about hiring students next year. I am also running out of resources to help me land me interviews. For now, I am trying to be positive and give it my best shot. Winter break is here, but the job search is not taking a break. This is the time when advice from last week’s Hire Education postinge on holiday networking will come in handy.

Accelerated Learning Resources