Pursuing a job opportunity after being rejected
Ken Pelczarski | TLT Career Coach September 2021
These strategies will guide you through the difficult task of reigniting interest from a potential employer.
How would you react if your resume was rejected for a job opportunity that you thought was an outstanding fit? What would be your plan of action?
How about if you had an excellent in-person interview, and then the employer conveyed that you are no longer being considered for the position? What would be your next move?
After being rejected for a position, my recommendation is to do your best to continue communications with the employer, especially if you have strong qualifications and believe the position is a great opportunity for your career path. You will have nothing to lose and everything to gain if you respect the employer’s time and keep dialogue on a professional level, so try not to give up until you have a valid reason for being rejected.
Granted, it is difficult to re-establish interest from an employer once you have been rejected after having an in-person, video or telephone interview. Theoretically, you have already had your chance to prove your qualifications and interest. It also is difficult to stimulate interest from an employer after having your resume rejected.
Listed here are common reasons and scenarios associated with being rejected or ghosted as a job candidate. Included are ideas on how to establish or resurrect interest from the employer.
CANDIDATE REJECTION SCENARIOS
1. You forwarded a resume, and it was either rejected or garnered no response. You cannot put forth your best argument for being qualified for a job unless you know the reason you have been rejected. Start by trying to find the name of a contact involved in the hiring process. Ideally, first verify with human resources or the hiring manager that your resume has been received and reviewed. Possible sources of company contact names include LinkedIn, the STLE website (
www.stle.org), STLE Local Section directories, Google or other search engines, the employer website, industry colleagues, industry articles and independent recruiters.
Once you find an appropriate contact name, you can plan your argument and next course of action by learning the reason you were rejected. If you are being represented by an independent recruiter, he or she should have established contacts available at the hiring company through which to obtain valuable feedback about your rejection. You and the recruiter can then form a strong argument to use in attempts to be reconsidered by the employer.
If you are unable to find a contact name at the company, you may want to resubmit your resume in case it was never reviewed. Another option is to address why you think you were rejected and include a cover letter with your resubmission that will make a strong argument for your qualifications.
Here are approaches to use based upon specific reasons for rejection:
Reason for rejection: Not enough relevant experience.
Response to employer: Acknowledge that you have less experience than being requested. Then ask the employer for the chance to prove that your experience is solid, and you have been as successful or more than most individuals in your field with many more years of experience. If you also have background in a related field, emphasize the value of that experience.
Reason for rejection: Overqualified.
Response to employer: Stress that your career goals are perfectly in line with the position being offered. If you are a proven manager and the position is non-management, be clear that you no longer want to manage others directly and why.
Reason for rejection: Poorly written resume.
Response to employer: Consider reworking and then submitting a more professional-looking resume. Also consider forwarding a separate business document to substantiate your written skills.
Reason for rejection: Relocation required.
Response to employer: Emphasize to the employer any of the following points that apply to you: (1.) You will pay your own relocation expenses, (2.) you have minimal relocation costs, (3.) relocation only involves yourself, (4.) you do not need to sell a home, (5.) you have a reason to settle long-term in the new location and (6.) you are available to start new employment quickly.
Reason for rejection: Salary is too high.
Response to employer: If you know or suspect that your salary expectations may be too high, resubmit your resume with a lower salary figure. You can always negotiate later in the process. If you recently earned a higher salary than the position is likely offering and/ or higher than your average market value, stress to the employer that you are being realistic with salary expectations and you know they are an employer that compensates fairly.
Reason for rejection: Rejection by applicant tracking system (ATS).
Response to employer: If you believe your resume was rejected by an ATS, resubmit your resume by including more keywords related to the job description.
Reason for rejection: Did not follow application instructions.
Response to employer: Check back to make sure you complied with all job application instructions. Resubmit if you neglected to include requested items such as references and salary desired.
2. You had a telephone interview followed by rejection or lack of feedback. If an employer feels that a phone interview went well, they would probably be in touch with you quickly to begin discussions about the next step. If you have not heard any feedback within a few days after a phone interview, the employer is likely either (1.) still deciding on advancing you to the next step, (2.) pursuing a higher-ranked candidate, (3.) planning to compare you with other candidates to be phone interviewed, (4.) near the point of rejecting you for the position or (5.) working on other priorities besides filling the position.
It is always important to follow up with the employer shortly after a phone interview to emphasize your continued interest and strong qualifications. It is equally important to follow up a second time if you have not heard any feedback within the first week. By being proactive, you can prevent concerns or negatives from festering with the employer, as well as elevate your candidate standing by confronting possible concerns.
It is wise to first begin learning your chances of being rejected by asking at the end of the phone interview if the employer has any concerns about you fitting well into the position and company. If you do not hear feedback within a week after the phone interview, contact one of the main interview participants to learn if you have been rejected and why. Again, if you are being represented by an independent recruiter, he or she should be able to learn quickly if you have been rejected, and then help you formulate a plan to resurrect interest.
Here are approaches to use based upon specific reasons for rejection:
Reason for rejection: Not prepared for interview.
Response to employer: There are not many good excuses for being unprepared. It is possible that you experienced unexpected distractions during your phone interview, which you can explain to the employer. Otherwise, it is best to emphasize how qualified and interested you are in the position and ask for a second chance to prove yourself.
Reason for rejection: Poor communication skills.
Response to employer: Your response here would be similar to the one previously. Explain any unexpected distractions or technical issues that affected the quality of your phone interview.
Reason for rejection: Did not ask good questions.
Response to employer: Get in touch with the primary interview contact with some carefully thought-out follow-up questions that you did not have the time to bring up in the phone interview. State that you plan to be thorough in evaluating the company and the position to increase chances of a long-term relationship.
Reason for rejection: Did not show interest.
Response to employer: Once you learn employer feedback about your possible lack of interest, write a follow-up letter to all phone interview participants. Mention a few key reasons for your continued interest (e.g., greater challenge, more visibility, a more meaningful role, personal growth, new learning) and stress that they will recognize your obvious interest in subsequent interviews.
Reason for rejection: Did not sell skill set or strengths.
Response to employer: After you learn feedback that you did not fully sell your strengths and qualifications, email each interview participant to emphasize the main strengths you bring to the table. Convey and quantify the specific benefit and value you offer to the employer.
3. You had a video interview followed by rejection or lack of feedback. The same as with a phone interview, if an employer feels that a video interview went well, they probably would be in touch with you quickly to begin discussions about the next step. If you have not heard any feedback within a few days after a video interview (just as after a phone interview), the employer is likely either (1.) still deciding on advancing you to the next step, (2.) pursuing a higher-ranked candidate, (3.) planning to compare you with other candidates to be video interviewed or (4.) near the point of rejecting you for the position.
An employer is likely further along in the hiring process when conducting video interviews versus phone interviews. Therefore, it is even more important to follow up shortly after the interview to learn about any concerns or possible rejection.
Toward the end of your video interview, be sure to ask about any concerns the employer may have as well as how you compare with other candidates. If you do not hear feedback within a week after the video interview, contact one of the main interview participants to learn if you have been rejected and why. Again, if you are being represented by an independent recruiter, he or she should be able to learn quickly if you have been rejected, and then help you formulate a plan to resurrect interest.
Here are approaches to use based upon specific reasons for rejection:
Reason for rejection: Lack of professional setting for video interview.
Response to employer: Explain if you were away from your office and had limited options for a professional interview setting. Apologize for unexpected distractions during the interview.
Reason for rejection: Did not show enthusiasm.
Response to employer: Displaying enthusiasm after the video interview is much better than not at all. Provide concrete reasons why you are not only interested in the position but are truly excited about the opportunity.
Reason for rejection: Lack of significant career accomplishments.
Response to employer: Express that you have not had the time yet to describe some of your proudest achievements. State that you are eager to talk about some of your best accomplishments in subsequent discussions. Offer to email information about these successes.
Reason for rejection: Did not research company.
Response to employer: State that you did preliminary research on the company and apologize for the lack of knowledge or information they expected you to have.
Reason for rejection: Did not ask good questions.
Response to employer: Send a follow-up email to the primary interview contact with a few important questions that you did not have the opportunity to bring up in the video interview.
Reason for rejection: Interested in a job, not a career.
Response to employer: The employer likely got this impression because you are unemployed or extremely unhappy with your current company. Emphasize that you are not looking to simply accept the first job offer to come along. Describe how your short- and long-term career goals match up well with the open position and that you do not expect a better opportunity to come along.
4. You had an in-person interview followed by rejection or lack of feedback. The further you are into the interview process, the harder it is to turn things around once you are rejected as a job candidate. This is because the employer will believe they already have a lot of information about you on which to base their decision. It is, however, more likely for you to resurrect strong interest if the employer is on the fence about you or does not feel comfortable pulling the trigger to make you a job offer.
Once an employer has interviewed you one or more times in person, they likely have a firm opinion about whether to consider you further for the position. If you have not heard any feedback from the employer within one week about the next step, they probably are either pursuing a higher-ranked candidate or planning to compare you with other candidates to be interviewed in person.
It is important to follow up with a thank you email to interview participants within approximately one or two days after an in-person interview. Although a thank you note may not matter to some employers, it has happened many times that an employer has not pursued a candidate further because of lack of follow up. It is advisable to ask in the thank you note about timing of the next step. You may learn that the company is hesitant to commit to you or is rejecting you as a candidate. It is important then to inquire about the main reason you are being rejected.
Toward the end of your in-person interview, be sure to ask about any concerns the employer may have as well as how you compare with other candidates. If you are being represented by an independent recruiter, he or she should be able to learn quickly if you have been rejected, and then help you come up with a plan to stimulate further interest from the employer.
Here are approaches to use based upon specific reasons for rejection:
Reason for rejection: Underqualified.
Response to employer: Promote that your experience will bring positive value and a great deal of success to their company just as it has to your previous employers. Offer to make a presentation to the hiring team to prove your level of knowledge in the field. If the employer is on the fence about you, propose a consulting arrangement that could lead to a permanent position.
Reason for rejection: Not enough leadership experience.
Response to employer: Express that you have become an effective leader in a short period of time. Give examples of your past success through team leadership. Depending upon the type of position, offer to write a business plan or a plan to increase revenue. Ask the employer to put you to the test by presenting a challenging team management scenario for which you will create strategies you would employ as a manager.
Reason for rejection: Overqualified.
Response to employer: Stress that your wealth of experience will bring many proven ways to achieve goals and solve problems. The employer may be worried about you leaving the company in the short term, so you need to work hard to convince them that this is the kind of role you want for the foreseeable future. Speak from the heart about how you can envision yourself being consistently happy and challenged in the position.
Reason for rejection: Not a long-term fit.
Response to employer: You may have responded to a question in the interview by stating that you want to grow into a specific type of role five to 10 years down the road. Be sure to clarify during follow up that you are flexible to grow in different ways, and there are several kinds of roles that could satisfy you over the long term. Emphasize that you expect future growth and promotions to be a mutual decision between you and the employer.
Reason for rejection: Lack of passion.
Response to employer: Give examples of major projects you have enjoyed managing in the past and how you obtained tremendous satisfaction in achieving lofty goals. Stress passion for your field through volunteer efforts in STLE, such as making presentations, writing papers and/or becoming an STLE section or national officer or committee member.
Reason for rejection: Lack of significant career accomplishments.
Response to employer: Email interview participants your two or three most pertinent accomplishments (ideally quantified), and briefly explain how this will translate to success with their company. If applicable, mention awards, entrepreneurial successes, commendation letters, past performance reviews, remote leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and volunteer leadership. Encourage the employer to check your references. It is always important to follow up with the employer shortly after a phone interview to emphasize your continued interest and strong qualifications.
Reason for rejection: Did not research company.
Response to employer: My April 2016 survey of lubricant industry hiring managers indicated that the top pet peeve of employers is lack of preparation/company research. Therefore, it is important to stress that you have done a great deal of research on the company and intend to do more. Apologize for the lack of knowledge or information they expected you to have.
Reason for rejection: Have a noncompete agreement.
Response to employer: It is in the best interests of you as well as the prospective employer to minimize risk of action being taken on a possible contract violation. First, research how your current employer has treated non-compete agreements in the past. If there is no history of past litigation, tell the new employer. Express a desire to be creative in working around the non-compete agreement, especially if the two companies are not close competitors.
Reason for rejection: Did not ask good questions.
Response to employer: Email interview participants to tell them you did not have the opportunity to ask some important questions during the in-person interview. Convey that you want to learn as much as possible about the position and company to increase chances of a long-term relationship. Ask four or five questions in the follow-up email regarding items such as (1.) main objectives in the position during the first year, (2.) how they want the position to grow, (3.) the company culture, (4.) leadership style of upper management, (5.) company strengths and weaknesses and (6.) primary reasons to join the company.
You will notice above that many reasons for rejection and responses to employers are applicable to several stages of the interview process.
It happens frequently that a person is rejected early in the hiring process when this candidate easily could have been a finalist for the position. I have represented many individuals over the past 40-plus years who were rejected after a resume submission or an interview and, through further efforts, were advanced in the hiring process or eventually hired for the position.
Avoid being aggressive or critical during your attempts to stimulate interest from the employer. Stay calm, upbeat and professional to maintain a positive relationship and make the most of the situation. Even if you do not get hired, you may have the chance to pursue another suitable opportunity with this employer down the road. If you cannot reactivate interest from the employer, try to learn from this experience so you can present yourself better in your next job interview.
You know yourself.
You know your passion.
You know your skill set.
You know your capabilities.
You know your career goals.
You know what type of position and company will bring you happiness and success.
Be sure to continue pursuing a great-fitting opportunity with vigor, even after rejection, ideally to the point where you receive a job offer.
Ken Pelczarski is owner and founder of Pelichem Associates, a Chicago-based search firm established in 1985 and specializing in the lubricants industry. You can reach Ken at (630) 960-1940 or at pelichem@aol.com.