Rejection... unfortunately something we all face at one point or another. It stinks being on the receiving end of it, but in life rejection is a necessary evil.
The reason I picked this topic today, is because of a conversation I had with a job seeker late last week. She said,
"I am tired of applying and interviewing for jobs and never getting a call or an email back". I understood where she was coming from....if you took the time to apply, phone interview, take time off to go into their office; the least they could do is communicate their decision. However, being the one who delivers bad news more than good news gives me some ...er....perspective.
I understand that recruiters carry heavy work loads and don't always have the time to get back to everyone. I am
not excusing it, because that is not
my M.O. I have met recruiters that just don't like sending rejection letters or making that dreaded call. It's not fun. I get that, because I don't enjoy it either. One of the reasons that I love recruiting is giving someone who deserves the job - the job! The thing is, it IS a necessary evil... because it is vital to candidate experience.
So what about other forms of rejection? In Sales? In Sports? In getting picked last? In not getting the promotion? In not getting the guy/girl? We all have to experience this (unfortunately), but what I will leave you with is this... What did you learn from getting rejected? Have you taken the time to ponder that?
I am a firm believer in learning from negative experiences. Maybe you will practice more to make the team? Maybe you will learn to coach instead of play? So, you didn't get the promotion... what did the person have that you didn't? Was it a political decision? Should you develop your skills more in one area or another? Is it time to move on and get the recognition you deserve? You didn't catch that awesome fish in the sea... was it a blessing in disguise? Do you need to spend some time working on yourself?
There are a lot of questions you can be asking yourself when you experience rejection. I am not saying that you should blame yourself or be hard on yourself - that is NOT what you should do. What I am saying is that
reflection is important. Understanding your weaknesses is a step forward in self improvement and I am a big advocate for self improvement (I have the braces at 34 to prove it!).
Now as for the Art of Rejection....
You have probably been subjected to the "sandwich methodology" - you know where you get two compliments sandwiched between the negative feedback (or in this case rejection). In HR, we tread lightly when giving feedback (if at all), because it mitigates risk. People misinterpret what you say sometimes, twisting kind feedback and turning it into a discriminatory remark. As such, a recruiter will never tell you exactly why you didn't get the job (or at least they shouldn't). Where the "art" comes in is... crafting a rejection that is not ego destroying.
For example:
"Thank you for all the time you invested in our interview process. While your background was most impressive, we have decided to hire someone who better fit the requirements of the positions. We hope that we will cross paths again in the future. Best of luck in your search." Yes, there is a compliment in there, but it's not just a simple sandwich. It is more of a positive let down. This approach will leave a favorable impression of your company and is what the candidate experience friendly rejection should feel like. Positive, open for the future, encouraging respect for their time investment and still promoting the employment brand.
Thoughts?
