I enjoyed meeting with the University of Akron SHRM Student Chapter this week during their networking “speed dating” event. The students rotated to tables to meet with seasoned professionals like myself to ask questions about careers in HR.

One of the students asked me about dealing with rejection while searching for a job.

Rejection can come in many forms when something doesn’t go your way.  For example, you might feel rejected when you don’t get a promotion, close a sale or land a client.

So, how do you deal with rejection?

It’s ok to feel bad in the moment and process those emotions.  And then, it’s time to pick yourself up and CHOOSE a more OPTIMISTIC MINDSET.

Not the Right Fit, Right Now

I believe that when things don’t go my way, that means it’s not the right fit right now. I EMBRACE REJECTION as an OPPORTUNITY for something BETTER to come into my life.

To help shift my mindset, I reflect on my past experiences with rejection and how it led to a better outcome.  For example, when I was in college, I applied for a co-op with the Forest Service, which would have resulted in a permanent job upon graduation.  I was DEVASTED when I was not selected. When I graduated two years later, I joined the Peace Corps and had the experience of a lifetime living and working in Malawi. If I had landed the co-op job, I never would have experienced Africa. And did you notice that it took TWO YEARS before I recognized that the co-op job was not the right fit right now?

“Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being redirected to something better.” – Dr. Steve Maraboli

Look for the Learning

Although I might feel like a failure initially, I quickly explore what I can learn from the experience.  Think of the word FAIL as an acronym for “First Attempt In Learning.” If you didn’t get the job, close the sale, land the client…..ASK FOR FEEDBACK.  Most people will be willing to coach you if you ask them to help you learn from the experience to do better next time.  And if they aren’t willing to share feedback, then do some self-reflection. Don’t just focus on what you may need to improve; also, reflect on what you did well and how you might leverage those strengths in the future.

To sum it up, reframe rejection as redirection and an opportunity to learn.

Wishing you the best!