How I Respond to Application Rejections

March 05, 2022

You got a reply!!!!

But as you start reading more, something seems off. “We appreciate your application but have decided to go with another candidate…

Oh.

You thought that was the one. Was all that work a waste?

There are two things you can do to turn the situation around.

  1. Think about the questions that tripped you up. Then, write them down and perfect the answer.

  2. Send a thank-you email.

A thank you email??! Yes.

While sending a thank-you email can feel backward, there might have been situations outside your control. For example, maybe an internal employee went for the same position.

Here is an idea of what to say

Dear (company and or hiring manager)

I’m happy to hear you found the right candidate. Thank you for getting back to me and letting me know about the decision.

I enjoyed learning about (company)

I know that I am not in a position to ask for favors. Still, if you have a moment to spare, I would love any additional feedback about areas in my application that I could improve to increase my chances of becoming a (job title)

Please do not feel obligated to answer this question, but if there was something you noticed, it would help me in my job search, and I would be so grateful.

I hope everything works out with you and your new hire!

Sincerely, (your name)

A sense of respect and kindness can go a long way.

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Have a fantastic day!


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Learn about his journey from English teacher to software engineer.

Made by Zach Stone