What to Do When You Don't Get a Job Offer

Many of us have been there -- we really wanted a certain (new) job we were interviewing for, thought we had it (or at least had a great shot at it), were getting excited about it and then, bam!, we get a rejection note/letter/call. There's no nice way of saying it: it's a total bummer when this happens.

Believe me, I know. I've been there. More on that in a minute. For now, let me give you some advice on what to do when you receive such a rejection:

1. Respond. Don't just blow them off (if it's a letter/email -- it's harder to blow off a call), but send them a reply.

2. Be gracious. Thank them for their time and effort and for considering you as a potential hire. (You can tell them you were honored, really liked the people, etc. -- whatever you want to say to convey good feelings.)

3. Leave the door open. Let them know that if they ever have future spots open or if the person that got hired doesn't work out, you'd love to be considered.

This worked for me in a really big way. Here's my story:

I was interviewing for a new position a decade or so ago that was really way over my head (they wanted X years of experience and I had four or five less than that, but I thought "why not?" since I had some major accomplishments on my resume and I was a good interviewer.) So I sent them my resume and was called by an executive recruiter. I had a follow-up phone interview with him, then an interview with the company a month later. I flew back for another interview with the company a month after that. I found out later that here's how the numbers broke down for the company:

• 150 resumes received
• 50 people called for follow-up
• 30 people given phone interviews
• 12 people invited to be interviewed by the company
• 6 people invited to be interviewed by the company a second time
• 3 people made it to the "short-list" of potential hires

I finished second. Ugh.

The recruiter called me and told me the news. I thanked him for his time, told him I appreciated all his efforts, reiterated that I loved the company, and said I'd certainly be open to other opportunities with them. I followed up by sending him and the president of the company each a hand-written thank you note.

Two months later when they needed an executive that was at the same level as the spot I interviewed for (just in a new division), there was only one candidate: me. They called me up, I flew down, talked to the new division head, and was offered a job the next day. Certainly my interviews from the previous job helped as did my interview with the new division head. But the way I had ended the process made a big, big difference as well.

Imagine if I had simply blown them off. Or worse, what if I had told them they were making a huge mistake hiring the other guy, that this just showed what fools they were, etc.? Think I would have gotten the second job? No way.

I had a friend that reacted the same way (different company) I did when he was rejected from a job he wanted. When the original hire didn't work out (he quit after two weeks), my friend was offered and took the job.

So if you ever get rejected for a job you really want, be sure to respond kindly, be gracious, and leave the door open. By doing this you may be getting the job (or one like it) after all.

P.S. By the way, this jump was a huge one in my career from both an experience and salary perspective. Someday maybe I'll write a post titled "How to Grow Your Career by Applying for Jobs You're Not Qualified For."

Comments

[TheDebtHawk.com]

Great advice. I have seen it time and time again where a runner up candidate gets the next available job. As someone who does a lot of hiring, your advice on how to handle a rejection is spot on. Don't ever miss an opportunity to connect with someone - even if that opportunity is simply thanking them for their consideration.

[Dotty dot dot]

I'm wondering if you were married when you got this job? From reading your blog, I'm under the impression that your wife stays home with the kids, is that correct?

These posts about your previous work have been really insightful, but can you write anything about what it's like trying to advance your career while married to someone who also has a demanding job (or someone with just as high aspirations for work as you do)? Or perhaps just married to someone that doesn't want to move?

I ask this because I and my significant other (we're not married - yet) are both working toward PhDs in the hopes of becoming professors. The likelihood of the two of us working in the same university, let alone the same town, are quite slim, so we know that compromises will have to be made along the way.

Do you know of any stories that could speak to that type of experience?

[Texashaze]

This is good advice. We rank our candidates, if #1 rejects or falls through then we go down to #2 and so on. From time to time people respond poorly to the initial rejecting. When they do we knock them off the list.

[Craig]

That's excellent advice. No reasons to burn bridges and act sour. Acting the right way can only lead to good karma in the future. Problem is a lot of companies actually blow off the people they interview. I have been on a few final interviews before and they said they would let me know and never did. Of course I didn't get the job but would like to at least get a formal rejection.

[TonyM @ leavingfinance.com]

Great post. Agree 100%. Even if you don't get a job from them soon after, its a small world and you want to keep your name in tact.

[mapgirl]

This is great advice. You never know. #1 on the list might have a different offer they take instead. Guess who moves up to #1?

I would love to see your post about applying for jobs you're not qualified for. One of the most successful people I knew encouraged me always to bite off more than I can chew at work because it keeps things interesting.

[DW]

This is how I got my last two jobs! The first company called back about a month later -- a staffer left unexpectedly.
The second company called about six months later -- a real "out of the blue" situation. Turns out the department manager who originally interviewed me gave my resume to a newly promoted manager in another department. So I interviewed again, and got the job.
You never know!

[FMF]

Dotty --

Sorry, I can't write about that as I haven't experienced it -- not sure what all the issues are with it. I write what I have lived and can't offer any personal insights into two-earner couples.

[FMF]

Mapgirl --

Stay tuned to the series that details the various jobs I have had. I have one coming up where I give some more details on the job referenced above.

[Mike S. @ Your Personal Finance Source]

Great post! It's always good to keep healthy connections with companies/people because you never know what opportunities may arise down the road. By the way, I think hand-written notes are meaningful gestures that are often overlooked because of advanced technology. They should definitely be used more often. Plus, you will almost certainly be remembered by the recipient of a hand-written note!

-Mike S.

[Terry]

Wow, great story, and very encouraging.

But I'm guessing this was Before Craigslist - today, billions of resumes go into an electronic black hole, never to receive acknowledgment or response.

[Aaron]

Thanks for this advice. I just received news today that I was rejected for a job I really wanted. I'll try this out and see where it gets me. Wish me luck!

Aaron