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Ouch! Rejection hurts. You might interview many times before finding a job. In our current economic downturn, more people then ever are now competing for the same positions. Often you will lose out to someone who has more work experience or qualifications that are more pertinent.

If you are just starting in the working world, it may be difficult for you to deal with the number of rejections that you may have to handle before landing your first job. Understanding that many of the other applicants are more suited to the job simply by virtue of experience and training can help you take rejection less personally.

You are not being rejected on a personal level; you are being rejected because another applicant was deemed more suitable. Try the following tips to give you a better chance of winning over your potential employer.

Be presentable

Dress in casual, clean, and well-pressed clothing. Put your best foot forward in regards to jeweler and other adornments. In other words, less is probably better. If you have body piercings and extensive tattooing, you would be well advised to remove the rings and cover up most of the tattoos. This does not necessarily mean that you should hide them; rather it means you should minimize them as opposed to flaunting them.

Be open and honest

Job interviews can be a nerve -wracking process for many people. Look the interviewer in the eye while greeting him and/or shaking hands with him. Be frank and considerate when answering his questions and never hedge or "fudge" your answers. If possible do some research on the company beforehand to have a better understanding as to what questions to ask. Do not be afraid to ask any questions or to ask for clarification of anything he may ask you. Always initiate the handshake and thank the interviewer for his time at the end of the interview.

If you do not get this position, send a follow up email or a letter. In it, after thanking the interviewer for his time ask something like - "Would you mind telling me any areas I could look at (job skills, upgrading, etc.) in order to better qualify for this position in the future?" You may be very pleasantly surprised at how many people will willingly accommodate this request. It also shows that you really do have an interest in his company, and could very well lead to your consideration should another position become available.

If you were really looking forward to this job, as opposed to applying for the job because you really need the money, give great thought to his answer(s). Do not let something as simple as a bit of upgrading hold you back from the position you desire and deserve.

While you are without working and actively job-hunting, consider volunteer work in your community. This not only looks great on your resume, but it opens up a completely new net working system for you. Do not be afraid to let family, friends, and acquaintances know what type of job you are looking for. Again, this widens your network.

Do not let a job rejection lead to fear of future interviews. You may have to go through a great many number of interviews before you get the job you really want. But, most of all, never take a job rejection personally.

Learn more about this author, Melinda Barr.
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