Handling Rejection - Sometimes things don't work out

Hey there! The main topic here applies to the situations where you get laid off, fired, or you are having a hard time finding anything because of repeated rejection... it happens! You aren't the only one, so keep reading.

Well, let's assume that you're looking for the next possible opportunity. In order to do that, you have to mourn your last job or last interview and LET IT GO. Find some closure by figuring out what caused it, and take some of the blame; nobody can do anything perfectly, so realize that this is a chance for you to improve! Just these past couple of weeks, I got turned down on two exceptional jobs that I interviewed for. I was a little disappointed to not get an offer, though there is a lot to learn from such "failures;" just remember that even the best people who were inventors like Thomas Edison, had more than his share of failures before he was a huge success.

Of course, moving on from rejection it is not always easy, but you have to focus on the goal: your next opportunity. If you stay cold, bitter, jaded, then every interview you go to, those interviewing you will be able to see it, or smell it. You will be cringing, and when they asked what happened in your last job, you might just say too much, which really throws up a red flag for companies looking at candidates.

So here are things to keep in mind when going hunting for interviews:

1. Refresh your resume: nobody has the perfect resume. Does your resume represent you fairly? Does it show the skills and benefits that you bring to the type of jobs that you're applying to? Have someone in a similar industry take a look at your resume or ask for a practice interview with someone so you can get more direct feedback. Give your resume a FACELIFT, change the template, and benchmark against resume examples online. This may seem counter-intuitive, though if you're not getting the attention you feel you deserve, you need to add some more juice to your resume or have it professionally written, for example.

2. Do what they are asking. If they ask for a cover letter, give them a cover letter. If they ask you to come in for an interview, BE ON TIME AND PROPERLY DRESSED! Follow up with them after an interview, you know, the list goes on (and I can cover this in the next blog).

3.a. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Ask what their concerns are about you taking the job so that you can address those concerns and spend more time talking about what you have to offer.

3.b. Don't be afraid to ask for criticism. As we are all looking to improve (right?) and get better, even if you get turned down for a job after an interview, go ahead and follow up with questions of how to improve. I have done this myself, with mixed results, but phrase it politely and ask for their honest opinion:
   "Hello Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your time last week. I am appealing to you to ask for your thoughts, suggestions, or criticism so that I may improve. Getting a job isn't hard, but finding a great job is very difficult. Realistically, the position I interviewed with you for is what I intend to do next in my career, so this reaction to me is disconcerting. Please share your findings/observations with me so I can figure out how to do my best for my next interview.

Thanks again for your consideration and time."

4. Be PROFESSIONAL, ALWAYS. Whether you're getting let go or they didn't even give you a chance at the interview, be polite, respectful, and professional. There is no reason to burn bridges or attack anyone; if the job is out of your hands, let it go. This will help you to move on, rather than being angry or hurt. If you take it professionally, rather than personally, then you'll end up winning in the end.

Overall, these basic steps can help you as you go for your next great opportunity. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment or get in touch. My next possible blog topics are 1. another followup to cover-letters; 2. best ways to prepare for an interview; 3. what it means to be a "professional." Have more topic ideas? Send them my way,

Cover Letter Importance and How to Write Yours

Well there folks, this is a key phrase when you're searching for a new gig!: ATTACH RESUME AND COVER LETTER


What the heck is a cover letter? Well it is a sheet of paper that we could compare to the hypothesis of an experiment or summary of professional paper. An introduction, to you! More basics at wiki: Wiki - cover letter link. A cover letter is sometimes a Word Document, PDF, or just spelled out in an email (more like an introduction).

Why is this important? The cover letter is mandatory if someone asks for it, because if you do not give a potential employer what they ask for right from the beginning, there is a solid chance that you will not even get a crack at an interview!

Realistically, this leaves you with two options if you are applying to numerous jobs:
1. Make a new, unique cover letter for every job that you apply to which requires a cover letter
2. Create a form-letter style cover letter that you can change select words to fit every position applied for

Depending on your approach to finding a job, one of these could be more beneficial. Making unique cover letters shows more sincerity, and if that is something valued by the reader (Human Resources), then it will pay off to spend a few minutes, if you actually want the job. If you are "spraying and praying" and sending your resume out everywhere, then the form cover letter could work just fine. Some companies use the cover letter as an introductory requirement- don't follow instructions and they can just drop your resume in the trash and move to the next! Companies have their own strategies and methods to weed people out and the name of the game is this:

First: make yourself equal. Second: set yourself apart.


A more personal, catered, and unique cover letter is going to hit the hardest, without a doubt, if someone actually reads it. There are a few other factors here, and there will always be certain aspects of the job search that are out of your control, so remember that and don't take it personally!

There are some ways that a cover letter can make you equal and set you apart, which is truly ideal. For instance, maybe your experience, per your resume, is not directly relevant or you are lacking in experience; your cover letter can help introduce why  you are a good fit, despite what may be read in your resume, giving you a chance at an interview! Score! The more personal you can be to relate with the job and why you are interested in it could attract the HR/recruiter/reader to take an interest in you, which will benefit you when you get to the interview. Score again!

My personal experience with cover letters is that writing and customizing can be cumbersome and boring, though think about the time spent. If you spend 10 minutes on a cover letter and get to the interview for a job that you really, really want, that 10 minutes will go down in history as a significant part of your approach. No more need just to get lucky; you have the power in your hands, right from the first second you are considered as a candidate!!!

I know that a few of my cover letters got me attention in the past, and got me to the second round for one job. 400 resumes of qualified applicants were received, then the cover letters and resumes were used to get to the next step, where only 10 were chosen. I was one of the 10 because of my solid cover letter + resume combo! Score for me! And just in case you were wondering, I did end up being the top candidate, and there were just 2 hired out of 400 qualified applicants. If that does not show how vital and instrumental a cover letter can be, I am unsure how much more extreme I can go yet!

By the way, if a person looking at your cover letter and resume are owners of the company, realize that these people are much more closely linked to the company than the normal employee; the owner or president or other executive views this company as HUGE part of their life, so take the cover letter seriously, and you will be rewarded for it as your potential employer could become simply your employer.


Get out there and write some cover letters and show them who you are!


-Alex