To ask how to stay motivated after being rejected following a job interview?

[PoisedKhakiUser]

I’ve been through a few job interviews lately but keep facing rejection. I’m starting to feel really disheartened and finding it hard to keep going. AIBU to ask for advice on how to stay positive and not let these rejections get me down? How do you keep pushing forward when it feels like the job market is stacked against you?

I always try to think that it wasn't meant to be. "What's for you won't pass by you".

I try to keep a positive mindset, and for each interview I prepare, read up on the company and the team, tailor my interview questions. An interview is a 2-way process, so I do go in with the attitude of do I want to work with you, and look for red flags.

Here is what happened to me just this year...

Interviewed in June at a great firm (I'm a lawyer), liked the team etc, interview went really well, but I didn't get the job. I genuinely just thought "well that really is their loss, as I am a good worker and a fab team player". Sounds arrogant, but it's took me many years to get to that stage, with a lot of self-doubt etc.

I interviewed a couple of weeks ago at another firm and have been offered the position, which is a promotion with a 10% payrise at a great firm with fantastic work. Now I wouldn't have entertained the interview, (I was approached and not actively looking) if I'd been offered the other job back in June. So I really believe that it's fate, which I know is a little ridiculous.

Hugs - it sucks, when you've been looking for a while, but you really will get there. You're getting to the interview stage, which is great. How are you during the interview? Do you do enough preparation and ask enough questions? Are you engaged and engaging. They are looking to see if you will fit in with the rest of the team. Sometimes it's really not even anything to do with you, other factors come into play.

Wishing you lots of luck.

Hugs OP 💐 I think most of us have been where you are!

I had 2 rejections for 'dream' jobs which nearly killed me last time I was job searching. I really wanted to just give up! What helped personally was keeping my research of the company to a minimum (obviously you need to do some, but I'd research every little thing and convince myself any company was a perfect fit!).

I also reminded myself there are thousands, if not millions, of jobs in the UK that I could probably walk into and do well. It's not about finding the ~ perfect one ~ it's about finding one of the many out there that are good for you.

Since I've been on the other side of the process interviewing people, I've realised that often extremely good candidates don't get the job because there are a few extremely good candidates and it will come down to something small because ultimately you have to pick one person over the others.

So I now don't take the rejection as hard as I used to because I appreciate that. I might have been a brilliant candidate but somebody else was just slightly better or fitted slightly better into the team that is already there.

It's also worth asking for feedback even though I know it's often very bland and taking time to reflect on what you can learn from the process as well if there's anything you wish you'd answered better or approached in a different way.

That's all you can do really and just keep going but I do know how demoralising it is as I've applied for a few things recently and not even got shortlisted.