Generally speaking what is the reaction of job seekers when they get rejected at an interview?
It is to sulk and feel frustrated as to why one got rejected. You need to remember that your candidature has been rejected for a specific position for now however your profile can always be kept open for future requirements. So you do not have to take a negative attitude towards the individual or the company and close your doors for future requirements. Because it is after all an employer company which you wanted to join.
There is a saying – ‘Every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent benefit.’ – Napoleon Hill.
Just like in life, here too we need to learn to look at challenging situations differently, see them as opportunities to evolve. The rejection has opened up an excellent window for you to start NETWORKING and having conversations with potential employers. How do you go about doing it?
Here are 5 steps you can take when you get rejected at an interview:
Step 1] Thanking the recruiter:
You would have met the interviewer who let’s say is only a technical recruiter and has had one round of meeting with you. Take the email id of the individual and send him/ her a thank you mail for the time spent and the opportunity to learn new things during the interview. Mention something that you liked about the whole process of interaction. It reflects positivity on your part even when you have got rejected.
Step 2] Take permission:
After say another 15 days, you can send a connection request through LinkedIn with a short note. Then send a message to the recruiter saying that you really liked meeting the individual and asking for permission to be in touch with him/her once a month. You can mention that, maybe not immediately however for some future talent need, you would like to be considered. Generally speaking once a month is a frequency most recruiters would not mind if you keep in touch. And then you need to stick to this frequency. Now you have a contact established within the prospective employer company with whom you can have meaningful conversations.
Step 3] Expand your network:
Since you have interviewed with the company, you can start sending connection requests through LinkedIn to other key people in the organisation. For example, Head of HR, hiring manager, functional head or individuals who are at your similar level in the same function within the company. You can study their LinkedIn profiles and accordingly find common areas of interest and share with them that you have been interviewed by the company and though for the current requirement they would have found someone else suitable, you are impressed with the company and it’s work culture and would like to be in touch once a month.
Step 4] Add value:
So now that you have established a network of people within the prospective employer company, you can send them value added articles occasionally and depending upon the response after some time start having conversations.
Step 5] Meaningful conversations:
The kind of conversations with the individuals within the organisation need to be about the industry and their career progress. That way you will also learn a lot and also, people generally like to talk about their success stories.
You have the following advantages with such networking:
A] Your recall value as a candidate within the prospective employer company will improve dramatically.
B] There is a possibility that someone from the network may refer you to some other company within their network for a job.
C] Whenever there would be a suitable vacancy in the future in the prospective employer organisation, someone from the network can refer you to the hiring manager or to the head of HR.
And imagine if 2 people within the organisation recommend you to the HR department, the recruiter is bound to call you for an interview. You have kept your door open for future vacancies.
One piece of advice I would like to give is that you need to be cautious and careful of what kind of conversations you have. They need to be adding value to the professional’s life and in turn you can expect some return. Not the pushy and overbearing kind. With networking, it becomes so easy for you because now you have a foot in the door and enjoy relationships with people who you did not even know. Importantly, you need to remember to have a professionally well written LinkedIn profile because you would be using that tool majorly to network. Here are 8 Tips To Getting Your LinkedIn Profile To A Star Rating
Happy job hunting!
Sarabjeet Sachar
Seasoned Career Coach, Founder & CEO, Aspiration