It's not easy being rejected. However, in today's job market you should expect for that to happen. The fact is: it's a crowded job market and you are probably going to receive more rejections than you'd like. This is not the time to take it personally and let it get you down. The sooner you realize that being rejected is a part of your job/career hunting process, the sooner you'll land the opportunity that's right for you.

Here are three suggestions I make to clients to help them deal with the inevitable:

See job hunting and career changing as a messy process. You will often feel like you are going in circles and getting nowhere. This is normal. Unfortunately finding your next great opportunity will sometimes have you taking two steps ahead and one step back. When you notice this happening just take comfort in the fact that you are right in the middle of a transition and you're probably headed in the right direction.

Have lots going on at any given time. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people tell me that they just had a great interview and are hoping to be done with this whole job search very soon. Just because you had a great interview and found what seems to be the "perfect" job, don't stop job hunting. You need to keep pursuing leads no matter what you hope will happen with this job. Should you be passed over (and I've seen it happen plenty of times), you'll have plenty of other opportunities you are working.

Surround yourself with the right support. Make sure you have people you can reach out to for guidance, friends and colleagues who will encourage you to keep going, and other job seekers or career changers you can swap stories and advice with. Who you surround yourself with is a good predictor of the rate of your own growth.

Successful job and career changers know that failure and rejection are a part of the process. See it as they do…a sign to keep going since you never know how close you are!


Copyright© 2003-2008 Annemarie Segaric. All rights reserved.