It’s impossible to sugar coat rejection. Getting turned down from a job opportunity, especially one that you were excited about, stings in all kinds of ways. That being said, how you recover from that rejection is important to your future success.

We asked our expert recruitment and operations teams to give their best advice to bounce back from interview rejection. Their answers had one common theme – accepting constructive criticism.

Why Feedback is Important

Paige Pezzato, Recruiter II, explains “Every strike brings you closer to a yes! Take the feedback provided to improve how you answer interview questions, present yourself or better prepare for your next interview.” Using feedback to look at yourself through a critical lens isn’t easy to do. Nevertheless, it is an important skill that will help you throughout all stages of your career.

Additionally, recognize that the criticism you are receiving is something that most people would pay for. Shannon Richissin, Payroll & Onboarding Specialist, puts it simply “You are getting free, unbiased constructive criticism. Re-evaluate your resume and interviewing style and keep on trying.”

Keep in mind that feedback after a job interview is hard to come by. Employers will often avoid giving feedback to protect their organization from legal consequences. Take this into account after your interview, but don’t let it stop you from following up with some questions about where it went wrong.

How to Ask For Feedback

How do you go about asking for feedback from a hiring manager if they don’t initially provide it to you following an interview? A simple and polite email or phone call will do. Alexandra Coticchia, Account Manager at Hunter, explains “Soliciting feedback after being rejected can seem intimidating, but it’s one of the best ways to receive candid insights and constructive criticism. In addition, it will help you build resilience for future interviewing experiences.”

Hunter’s Founder and President, Gabrielle Christman, offers her wisdom “My advice would be to listen without getting defensive, even if it is against your natural instincts… As a job seeker, detailed or specific feedback is rare. Appreciate the feedback provided by the interviewer and ask useful questions to gain understanding and clarity.” She continues, “Some great questions would be “what would you recommend I try different next time? Is there anything else you think I should be aware of that could help build my interview skills?” If you ask questions instead of trying to avoid the negative and hang up the phone – you will be able to learn, grow and develop interview skills that will help later in your career.”

With these tips in mind, approach your next opportunity with confidence in your skills and abilities. After all, the hiring managers invited you to interview in order to gain a better understanding of your accomplishments!

Check our our Six Tips For a Successful Interview to accurately prepare for next time!