So, you didn’t get the job. Or you didn’t get the in-person interview after the phone screen. Or maybe you didn’t even make it to the phone screen. They all share the same result: You got rejected…and it hurts.
One of the reasons I built Work It DAILY was to help people cope with job rejection. Unlike professional salespeople, you haven’t had the opportunity to develop your ability to manage rejection.
Here’s why…
You aren’t a professional salesperson.
In other words, you don’t view rejection properly. You are a business-of-one who is “selling” their services to employers, right?
Well, the best salespeople have an incredibly high tolerance for rejection.
Actually, they don’t see rejection the way you and I do. They simply see it as a temporary “no” that, in time, with the right strategy and patience, has the potential to be converted to a “yes.”
Typically, when someone doesn’t understand what you’re presenting or selling, their natural response is to say “no” to the offer, disagree with you, or not believe you.
This is true whether you are asking them out on a date, trying to sell them a car, or trying to convince them to hire you!
They simply don’t have all the facts to support a “yes” response.
Good salespeople recognize the difference between not understanding and real “rejection.” Of course, successful people hear the word “no” just like everyone else.
But they understand “no” actually means: give me more information.
Successful job seekers face rejection less.
Why? I’ll tell you…
To learn how to deal with rejection, it’s critical that the potential employer clearly understands your value.
More importantly, it’s imperative that you understand their needs, desires, and problems in order to give them what they want. You can’t solve an employer’s problem if you don’t know what it is.
Minimize job rejection with these three tips…
1. Do Your Homework
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Before you make your “sales pitch” (aka submit your application), research thoroughly the needs, desires, and problems of your employer.
Successful salespeople understand it is critical to get to know their customers first. Yet most job seekers will just jump right in and submit their resume without doing any real homework. As a result, they typically get a “no” response or rejection pretty early (i.e., never get the phone screen, or their resume never gets past the ATS).
2. Listen With Your Eyes, Ears, And Brain
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“Listening” goes hand-in-hand with doing homework. It’s not enough to learn about your potential employer. You have to use what you learn to internalize what they are about. While you may not get to talk to someone directly, thanks to social media, companies often produce tons of material for their employer branding efforts that you can watch, read, or listen to.
This will help you figure out what’s really important to them. Better still, find someone who works there, or who has worked there, and set up an informational interview so you can get a real feel for what matters to the employer. This will let you tailor your resume, cover letter, and application so it stands out from the competition. An informational interview is also a great way to backchannel your way into a company, bypassing the online application process completely.
3. Customize Every Pitch
One size does not fit all! Good salespeople heavily customize their pitches to prove they’ve done their homework and relate to their prospects. If you’ve followed tips one and two above, you will have a good idea of how to shape your career materials so they really connect with the potential employer.
These days, tailoring your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter is expected. Talking about the employer in detail and relating back to your own experience is required. You must also optimize these materials with keywords from the job description and match them succinctly to the employer’s needs, or be prepared to go in the “no” pile.
Sound like work? It is! That’s why so many people aren’t good at sales!
But, here’s the good news…
If you join Work It DAILY, you’ll slowly be improving your skills and learning to minimize rejection. In fact, without even realizing it, you’d be learning to be a better salesperson for your business-of-one! Follow the tips above…and if you need extra help, then check out our membership options today!
Together, we can help you close the ultimate sale—a new job!
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