Didn’t get the job? Here are 4 tips for what to do next

Finding out you’ve been unsuccessful in landing a job can be a difficult thing to go through – especially after putting so much time and effort into applying.

While the experience comes with disappointment, there’s also often an opportunity to learn from it.

Here’s how to use a job rejection as a chance to grow and improve as you continue your job search.

Start by asking for constructive feedback

If you apply for jobs in Thai companies, many of them will give you the silent treatment if they reject you. Rarely do you receive notification that you were unsuccessful. And you will never know why you were rejected and miss the opportunity for self-improvement.

However, today, things are progressing. Since many Thai companies are being influenced by international corporates, some of them might give you feedback on your job interview. If you formally receive an unsuccessful application response, this may be a positive sign that if you take the initiative to contact them, they may respond. Indeed, getting constructive feedback is extremely helpful.

Feedback can give you valuable directions on how to improve for your next application.

Getting good, constructive feedback comes down to the questions you ask, and making sure your questions are directed to the right people.

Although feedback may look hard to get, you can get feedback by:

• Making a polite request for feedback directly from the person who is informing you of the status of your application.
• Emailing a relevant member of the hiring panel if you’ve been given their details throughout the interview process. Or, if you don’t have their details, email the business’ HR team to request feedback.

In making these approaches, it’s important to make it very clear you would just like to know if they have feedback for you – you don’t want to give the impression that you’re protesting the decision. The way you phrase these questions goes a long way in getting this right.

Constructive Questions for Post-Interview Feedback

• Are there any specific skills or areas of experience I should focus on to be better positioned for similar roles in the future?
• Could you suggest ways I might gain or strengthen these skills or experiences?
• Do you have any feedback on my interview performance that could help me improve for future opportunities?
• Were there particular competencies that I may not have fully demonstrated during the recruitment process?
• Were there any competency areas assessed in the interview where my examples may have fallen short?
• Is there any feedback on my interview technique that could help me be more successful going forward?

Put constructive feedback to good use

Constructive feedback is only useful if you know how to act on it. To help you implement the feedback you get, Lambart has a number of potential suggestions:

• Find a course or other training that can help you develop specific skills.
• Seek someone in your network who would be happy to mentor you in this area.
• Volunteer for new opportunities in your current workplace to build out your skill set.
• Consider pitching yourself at a different level to gain these skills. For example, you might try applying for roles with slightly less responsibility or salary to gain specific experience in a new industry.

Use the opportunity for some self-assessment

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to obtain feedback. Some organisations have policies against providing it, and other times the feedback you do get is generic and not very useful.

When this happens, there are still things you can do to turn this experience into an opportunity for growth. Self-assessment can be a powerful tool for understanding why you may have not been successful, and to regain confidence before you put yourself out there again.

Write down the questions you were asked immediately following an interview, so you can assess your own responses. This may help you to determine any areas that you have to work on, either on your own, or with the help of a professional.

Don’t let a rejection stop you from pursuing the role you really want

Being knocked back for a role can be deflating and there’s no doubt it can impact your confidence. It’s important to remember though that a rejection is not always straightforward and is often not a direct reflection of how skilled or capable you are.

It can help to know that in many cases your skills, experience and performance in the interview may have been very good, but that there was just another candidate who stood out more on the day.

If you‘re really struggling to understand why you were not successful, seek out a coach who can help you identify areas for improvement for next time or at least build your confidence up again for the next interview.

When it comes to applying and interviewing for jobs, there are some things that will always be out of your control. By focusing on what you can do – taking steps to reflect and gain feedback or ideas for improvement – you’ll have benefitted from your experience no matter what the outcome.