How to Overcome Job Search Rejection

“When he came to Jerusalem,
he tried to join the disciples,
but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he really was a disciple.”
Acts 9:26

We all know those painful feelings of rejection. We learned this way back in high school or earlier. When someone turned down your request for a date. When no one asked you to the prom. When no one chose you to be on their team, or you were the very last one selected, and you ended up on a team where you were really not wanted.

The pain of rejection is real. You may think back to those experiences of youth with a smile, but the echo of that early pain still reverberates in our systems.

When Saul of Tarsus was converted and wanted to become a part of the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem, he contemplated the pain of rejection based on his history and so took someone to testify on his behalf.

Christ knew the pain of rejection. Not only did Thomas doubt who He was, but Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and all the disciples went back to business between the resurrection and Pentecost. Yes, Christ knew rejection.

And the pain you feel from being rejected from a position after a job interview is no different. It’s real. It hurts. It raises self-doubts.

How do you cope with the pain of rejection in a job application?

Consider these:

• See the bigger picture: Move beyond yourself and the very real painful feelings to understand that what you experience in rejection equips you to offer a word of comfort, hope, and encouragement to others facing the same pain.
• No reflection on you: When employers look for new employees, they look for someone that is going to be a fit on a whole list of criteria. Just because you didn’t fit this time, doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong with you, or that you won’t fit next time.
• Learn from it: After each rejection, ask yourself, “What could I have done better?”  Then as you prepare for the next interview, incorporate these lessons.
• Trust God’s sovereignty: Believe that God really is in control and that the outcome doesn’t rest solely on your shoulders. Trust that He is working on your behalf.

Enjoy the adventure…

As important as a job is, God is doing so much more in your life. Catching a glimpse of your entire job search as an adventure with Him, and watching how He provides, will move your search to a new level.

Dear Sherpa of my soul, rejection is never easy, but help me to see that you work through it to bring me to another level of maturity.

If you would like to explore working with a Christian centered Career Coach, Contact me for a no-obligation consultation and we can discuss your situation, what you would like to achieve, and structure your job search to fit your uniqueness.