When you receive a rejection notification from a recruiter or hiring manager, always follow up with a thank-you note.
This message should express your gratitude for the manager’s time, state your interest in being considered for future opportunities, and ask for feedback on how you can improve.
Not every hiring manager will respond, and that’s ok. Even one hiring manager’s advice can help you improve your chances of getting hired the next time you apply for a similar job or internship.
You can also use this strategy when you apply for scholarships, fellowships, training programs, award competitions, and leadership programs.
A hard truth that most job candidates have to face is: You’re going to experience rejection during your search. At one point or another, you’ll be turned away from a role, and while you can’t control the decisions of other people, you can control how you respond. Upon receiving a rejection note from a recruiter or hiring manager, the best thing you can say is “thank you.”
Thank the employer for letting you know their decision and for their time and consideration. Demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Express your disappointment, but keep it brief and maintain a positive tone. Lastly, ask for feedback.
Thank you for letting me know about your decision. I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the [Position] role. While I am disappointed to learn that I was not selected, I appreciate the time and consideration you extended to me throughout the hiring process.
In addition to thanking the other person for their time and expressing gratitude for the opportunity, you should do two things: State your interest in being considered for future opportunities, and ask for feedback on how you can improve.
Should you receive the courtesy of being informed of a rejection, thank the person for letting you know and do not push any further. While you may have nothing to lose, since you didn't get the job anyways, an antagonistic reaction will only tarnish future opportunities.
Dear [Name of Hiring Manager], Thank you for your generous offer to join [Company] as [Job Title]. I sincerely appreciate the offer and your interest in hiring me. After much deliberation, I will not be accepting the job offer, as it is unfortunately not the right fit for my career goals/interests.
You took a risk — good for you. Remind yourself that you can handle the rejection. Even though you were turned down now, there will be another opportunity, another time. Get philosophical: Sometimes things happen for reasons we don't always understand.
Reframe the rejection by challenging negative thoughts and focusing on positive aspects of yourself and your life. Remember that rejection is not a reflection of your worth and remind yourself to stay open to future possibilities. Reflect on what you can learn from the experience to aid in personal growth.
Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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