🗣️ What We’re Hearing from Candidates: Getting Rejected
This is the 5th installment of the What we’re hearing from candidates recruiting blog series where we share what we’re hearing from conversations with job hunting candidates about why they’re looking for a new role right now and what’s important to them. Follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram @envisioninclusion to never miss an update!
Getting rejected by a company is always tough. According to a 2022 survey of 1,000 job-seeking candidates run by recruiting platform Joblist and published by Fast Company, on average, successful applicants applied for 10 to 15 jobs and received between 6 and 10 rejections. The most common assumption people gave for why they were rejected was that there were too many other applicants (43%). Other presumed reasons for getting rejected included that their experience was in a different industry (37%), that they were under-qualified for the job (36%), and that they asked for too much money (28%).
Source: Joblist, Almost Half of Job Seekers Lost Confidence From Receiving Rejection Letters
Anecdotally, we’re hearing similar concerns from job-seeking candidates we’ve spoken to recently. Candidates have shared that they’re hesitant to apply to a role that they see on LinkedIn there are already 200+ applications. If you have a LinkedIn Premium account, you’re able to see how many applications have been submitted to a role via LinkedIn. For roles that have been hit hard by layoffs like Recruiting and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion roles, we’ve seen roles receive more than 200+ applications within minutes(!!) of a role being posted. There’s a fair assumption amongst candidates that their application won’t be considered at all, regardless of whether they’re highly qualified for the role, based on the volume of candidates alone.
Candidates have also shared stories about applying to roles that appear to be a good fit only to receive an auto no-reply email a few days or weeks later saying they are not the right fit. Others have made it to further rounds with a company, only to be sent a vague rejection email thanking them for their time but not providing much rationale for the decision beyond something like “we have decided to move forward with candidates that are better aligned with what we’re looking for at this time.” They are left wondering, but what does "better aligned" mean exactly? And, what do these other candidates have that I don’t have?
If you receive a rejection, and chances are that you will in this competitive market, try not to take it personally. There are many reasons why you are not moving forward that may or may not have to do with your skills or how well you interviewed. The most productive thing you can do after receiving a rejection note is to ask for feedback.
Rejection can provide a great opportunity for growth and learning. We suggest you reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager to ask for feedback on your interview performance. This can help you identify areas where you can improve for future interviews. Keep applying to other positions and use the feedback from your previous interviews to improve your approach for future ones.
Here is an email template to copy and send:
Subject line: Request for Interview Feedback
Dear [Recruiter/Hiring Manager's Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to interview for the [Position] role at [Company Name]. Although I’m not moving forward in the process, I am grateful for the time and consideration your team put into reviewing my application and meeting with me.
I am committed to continuous improvement, and I would be grateful if you could provide me with feedback on my interview performance. I am eager to learn what I did well and what I can improve. Your insights and suggestions will be invaluable as I continue my job search.
Thanks again for the opportunity to interview with [Company Name], and I look forward to receiving your feedback!
Best,
[Your Name]
To note, you still might not get a response to your feedback request. Many large companies have policies that prevent recruiters from giving feedback, which might help explain the vague canned rejection email. But, other recruiters will respond and could provide you with valuable feedback to apply to your next processes.
While it’s frustrating to face rejection, it is a normal part of the job search process. Try to remember that rejection is not a reflection of your personal worth or abilities. The hiring process is complex and subjective, and there could be a multitude of reasons why you were not selected for the position. Try to reframe the rejection as an opportunity to ask for feedback and apply those learnings to your next process. You’ve got this! 💪🏽
For other "What we’re hearing from candidates” posts in this series, check out the following:
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