I just got my rejection today, after an interview for a company with a much better reputation than the one I presently work for.

I was pleased to be shortlisted, because it was very competitive (even though only just higher than min wage), and the other applicants were a high standard. The interview went okay, but bottom line I just wasn't as good as the others, I could see that around me.

Even though it's a 'better' company there were a few alarm bells ringing, such as they require total flexibilty, overtime when they require (Honestly those are the things I am trying to get away from). Most unnerving of all during the probationary period could be finished if "We don't think you fit with the company" (rather than the usual specific violation of contract most companies quote), so I could have quit my job to take this one and then been finished if I 'didn't fit'.

So not sure I would have took it if I'd been offered but still a bit down, rejection is rejection you know and this is reminding me of all the others I have had in my life. That sounds a bit pitiful! But it's how I'm feeling right now, also like I am stuck in my present job which although is not the worst has got some draw backs which I won't go into now.

How do you cope with the feelings that rejection emails/calls leave you with?

[Aviza]

It's tough. I'm interviewing and feeling rejected as well. I've been on 4, 5 if you count the phone interview. I've been hired on the spot before twice so I really feel like they would have picked me by now if they really wanted me. It's discouraging. Basically I take a break from the job search for a day or so just to regroup and get myself back to feeling okay again.

[seesaw]

Hang in there. I know what you're feeling. It sucks to get turned down. But eventually something will come your way!

You’re doing it—it wasn’t the right fit for you.

I’ve followed one woman on LinkedIn that rejected me. She hired a young, unqualified paralegal to do the job I had interviewed for. I have no idea why they bothered interviewing me. Then, she left shortly after to a job in CA, then came back here to work for a large co. She is jumping around on short-term basis. She probably wasn’t happy there. Maybe she isn’t a good decision maker. Who knows.

So anyway, I tell myself it wasn’t meant to be.

[Shazerac]

I kind of agree with Key Tones. I also am a firm believer that the universe unfolds as it should. Maybe this wasn’t the right place for you. But what do i know?

That being said rejection hurts. Especially when it comes to employment. Your livelihood hood is at stake and that’s a primal need. The need to have food in your table and a roof over your head.

I feel a bit embarrassed to admit this but I am lucky that at the moment I don't desperately need to work, as a family we are doing okay. I am very lucky and I would guess that's rare.

The irony is that it was only a tiny bit more pay than where I am now but would require more travel expense - I would have been out of pocket if I took it but was considering it if it was a better workplace (I'm not sure it was although some things seem better).

This reaction is mostly disappointment and a bit pride too. Posting here and writing about it has helped put it in context though.

Thanks.

[erkekchojuk]

Wow honestly that sounds like a terrible company to work for. But yeah I understand you, I am very sensitive to rejection also. I guess the best way to cope would be to tell yourself these people aren't part of your life and you will never see them again.

[RebeccaCaldwell]

Sorry to hear that(( At the moment you feel rejection it's really hard to believe but it's really for the better. When we don't get a job we want or a boyfriend we like it's really for better. But we can understand it just after some time because of our emotions.

Sorry that rejection triggers negative emotions for you.

You say that, "The interview went okay, but bottom line I just wasn't as good as the others, I could see that around me." Why do you say this? Did you interview as a group? (For instance: I have been in interviews where they have 5 people at a time come in and ask each one of us questions in front of each other.) Or was this simply an impression you got based on their "appearance" while you sat in the waiting room?

From what I know about you, you haven't interviewed in a while. I can think of many times when I decided it was time to get or switch jobs and hadn't interviewed in a while--I got a lot wrong on the first interview and cleaned up so many little things that make a difference in my second or third interview. I can think of many jobs were I was hired at the second or third company that I had an interview at. I have a hard time remembering all the Ts I need to cross if I have not been working for a while on my first stab at interviewing with companies that expect you to do all the right things to qualify for their company. So many companies use a process of elimination rather than looking for raw talent. (Though raw talent I am not but I do think many companies lose out on good/talented people who are a little rough around the edges because they lack experience, etc.)

Ah sorry Hoping I should have explained better in my original post. Yes it was a group interview followed by one to one. In the group exercises we had to work as a team to tackle the situational scenarios given. One of the candidates was a manager looking to drop hours, I would say she performed the best out of all of us IMO.

I think this was not meant to be, and I feel better about it now. I didn't perform badly at interview or the group assessment , but yes it's nearly 2 years since my last so a bit out of the way. Mostly I feel okay with this now though, think it was just coping with the let down after the build up.