How To Handle Rejection After An Internship Application

Make sure you're taking a long-term view while searching for your next role - that's how you build a career, not just land a job! Three pro-moves: 1. Respond with grace to every rejection and use it as an opportunity to reaffirm your interest in the company more broadly. Why: If you make it pretty far through a process (past the hiring manager), the company likes you and sees a strong match. You would likely do well there, even if another candidate wins out for this role. A positive reaction to a rejection helps strengthen the relationship with the team, and let's them know the door is open to the future. Real Life Results: I've seen others share their successes; I can personally tell you I've received 3 offers from places that have previously rejected me, and 2 were when they circled back within a few weeks to months of a rejection, with another opportunity. Ex. "Thank you so much for this update! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed because COMPANY was truly my top choice, and a place I know I would thrive, but I'm so glad you found a strong match for this opportunity, it's an awesome role and team!! This process has been wonderful and only strengthened my interest in working with COMPANY so I hope you'll keep me in mind for similar opportunities - I'll be keeping my eyes peeled too. Careers are long and I hope we'll have the chance to be colleagues one day!" 2. Take that interview, even if something about the opportunity is less than ideal. Why: Maybe the comp is low, maybe title isn't quite what you wanted. But it's still a chance to learn more and network. If the company is of interest to you, take the chance to learn more. Yes there's an opportunity cost in terms of your time, but it may be worth it to get some networking in. Real Life Results: I've shared before that the initial salary range I was quoted for my job at Zapier was lower than what I would have expected...I continued any way, and fortunately managed to get leveled up which landed me an offer I was happy to accept! In the past, accepting an interview for a job in a location I was not willing to go to also landed me a great opportunity. Ex. There isn't one. Just say yes if there's something appealing - you might decline this opportunity, but open the door to an even better one! 3. Keep in touch with people after networking chats, interviews, etc. Why: Anyone you've met with once is in your network. When you share updates, you keep the lines of communication open. This makes it easier to make an ask in the future, and also keeps you top of mind for them! Real Life Results: This approach has helped me get referrals or connections to hiring managers, some of which have led to offers. Ex. "I know we chatted a few months ago - since our conversation, I completed my certification through PMI, and moved into an agile-focused role in my dept. I'm still interested in opportunities with COMPANY in the future, so certainly keep me in mind in the future!"

A Positive Way to Respond to a Rejection Letter... A Recruiter's Perspective... 👩💻 I truly understand how frustrating it can be to receive a rejection email after investing time in interviews. No one enjoys hearing that they weren’t selected. But I want to share a recruiter’s perspective on why providing closure can be challenging on our end, and a tip on how candidates can possibly turn a rejection into a future opportunity. Many times, when we let candidates know that another person was chosen or that hiring needs have changed, we receive pushback; frustration, demands for explanations, even arguments about why they should have been selected. Over time, these responses can make recruiters hesitant to provide any closure at all.  But here’s the thing: The way a candidate responds to rejection matters. The best options are to move on or reply professionally. Candidates who reply professionally and ask for constructive feedback leave a better impression than those who challenge the decision. ✅ A great response to a rejection letter might look like this: "Thank you for the opportunity to interview for this position. While I’m disappointed, I appreciate the time you took to consider me for the position. If possible, I’d like to hear any feedback on areas I could strengthen for future opportunities with your company. I hope to stay in touch and be considered for future roles that align with my skills." A response like this keeps the door open and may even lead to future opportunities. On the other hand, arguing about why you should have been chosen? That’s a sure way to ensure you won’t receive any additional feedback. Most recruiters want to provide closure; we just don't want the backlash that too often comes with providing closure. Some might also be restricted by company policy from providing direct feedback. Rejection doesn't always mean "you" weren't right for the position; it might just mean someone else was more qualified. If we have three fully qualified candidates for a position; we have to pick one and that means two qualified people will get that dreaded response. But...you never know when the right opportunity will come along! I have rejected candidates because someone else was selected and then have called back the rejected candidate weeks or months later to offer another opportunity. Professionally keeping doors open can make a difference! #JobSearch #InterviewTips #RecruiterPerspective #CareerGrowth

A candidate recently told me she didn’t get a job because the hiring manager flipped a coin - and the other candidate won. Flipped. A. Coin. (*The company was NOT one of my clients, for the record) She was a finalist. She had everything going for her. And, so did someone else. That’s how close these decisions can be. If you made it to the final round, it means you stood out. It means they saw your value. And, it doesn’t mean the door is closed. I’ve seen plenty of people miss out on one role, but get hired later because they made a strong impression during a previous interview. So what should you do? 👉 Respond to the rejection with grace. Thank them for the opportunity. 👉 Ask for a quick call with the recruiter or hiring manager. Be open to feedback. 👉 Reiterate your interest in the company and the work they’re doing. 👉 Stay in touch. Ask to be considered for future roles. A lot of great hires don’t come from new job postings. They’re made from previous final-round candidates who stayed connected, stayed professional, and stayed top of mind. A “no” today doesn’t mean it’s over.

You’ve heard of a post-interview thank you note. Now get ready for the post-rejection thank you note! I see WAY too many job seekers viewing rejection as the end of the line. They cut ties with everyone at the company. These are people you spent 30-60+ minutes connecting with! They know your value, they know what you offer. They can be some of the best leads for new roles if you let them. So instead of letting rejection be the end of the line… Send a Post-Rejection Thank You note! Here's how to write one in 4 parts: 1. Thank them for taking the time to consider you 2. Wish them a ton of success with the hire they made 3. Mentioned specific things that you loved about the company, team, and speaking with them! 4. Ask if it'd be ok for you to stay in touch For example: "Hi Jamie, Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me last week! I heard the team made a hire, I'm super excited for you all and I'm wishing you a ton of success with [Initiative]. I really enjoyed interviewing at [Company], and I especially enjoyed our chat about the future of blockchain in the health tech space. If you're up for it, I'd love to stay in touch! Either way, have an awesome rest of the week." Now set a calendar invite to follow up with these people once / month. Aim to add value with your touch points. I promise they'll lead you to more opportunities.

I got the email. The “We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.” And it stings more than you expected. You start wondering: Was I not good enough? Did I say something wrong? Am I ever going to break in? I remember my first rejection vividly. I had interviewed, sent the thank-you note, even imagined myself in the role. And then, it was gone. It felt personal, even though I knew it wasn’t. But instead of processing it and moving forward, I spiraled. I questioned everything: my resume, my reel, my worth. Rejection is not proof of failure. It’s feedback. It’s timing. It’s fit. And in post-production, so much of the hiring process is relationship-based. That “no” might just mean “not right now” or “not this project.” Sometimes you’re the backup. Sometimes you’re next. But you’ll never know if you give up after the first “no.” Here’s 5 ways how to process rejection like a pro: 1/ Let yourself feel it, but give it a time limit. 2/ Write down what you did well. 3/ If appropriate, ask for feedback— not to argue, but to grow. 4/ Reflect: What can I refine for next time? 5/ Then, move forward with more clarity and resilience. Every rejection is a data point, not a death sentence. Rejection doesn’t define your path. How you respond to rejection does. Use every “no” to sharpen your focus for the next “yes.”