Resilience in the face of rejection

Looking for your next career move when facing redundancy can be hard. Regardless of your level of experience, industry knowledge or even your latest job role, there is a high probability that you will receive at least one rejection letter when you are looking for your new position.

Sadly, given the volume some companies receive, you may not even receive an acknowledgement of your application, let alone obtain a notice of rejection, which can be even more difficult when you have spent time and energy on applying for the role.

This isn’t an indication of anything that you have done wrong, or even that you weren’t suitable for the role you were applying for. With many other people also looking for their dream job, it is a statistical probability that you won’t always be successful, and a large proportion of people’s applications can leave them being made to feel ‘ghosted’.

However, in the face of rejection, it is important that you are resilient. The right job is just a successful application and interview away, but maintaining a sense of self and your self-confidence is imperative to enable you to perform well when the opportunity comes along.

Resilience is how well you can deal with – and bounce back from – challenges. Resilient people tend to maintain a more positive outlook and cope with stress more effectively. It can mean the difference between accepting rejection and being overwhelmed by it.

Although some people are naturally resilient, resilience can be learnt, and you can build resilience in a number of ways.

Set your goals – what are you looking for in your next role?

The threat of redundancy can be extremely daunting. However, setting yourself some reasonable goals can be the first step towards bouncing back. Those goals might be to revisit your CV, update your LinkedIn profile or reach out to a former boss, colleague or business partner for a coffee and a catch up. Whatever it is, setting and then achieving simple goals will help you start to work out – and work towards – what you want in the future.

Once you have set your goals, working towards them will also help you feel more in control of your situation. Finding a new job won’t happen without effort on your part, but breaking down the work that needs to be done and tackling it in a manageable way is important.

A sense of purpose

Redundancy is hard, but it can also be seen as an amazing opportunity to find an exciting new role or even change direction completely.  With a defined purpose, you’ll be more motivated to learn from your past experiences and keep going.

Outplacement is also a highly effective tool which your employer can provide to help you in finding your next career move following redundancy. Our team offers tailored outplacement to assist with this process, to help identify your options and transferable skills which could open new doors to your next role.

Believe in yourself

During a redundancy process it is important to retain confidence in your own abilities. It would be easy to start doubting yourself, but self-confidence is an important element of resilience. Listen out  for negative comments in your head. When you hear them, practice immediately replacing them with positive ones. Research has demonstrated that your self-esteem plays an important role in coping with stress and recovering from difficult events. Remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments – and if you identify areas for improvement, take time to develop them too.

Develop your network

Your business network can play an important role in helping you find your next role. Reaching out to former colleagues, bosses, suppliers and other industry contacts can yield impressive results. It can also help your resilience, as having a network of supportive individuals is so important. Your personal network is important too, as we all need our champions and supporters cheering us on.

Embrace change

Flexibility and optimism are essential parts of resilience. By learning how to be more adaptable, you’ll be better equipped to respond when faced with a difficult life experience like redundancy. Change is difficult, but with a resilient mindset, you can come out of it stronger and happier, and with a new career.

 

Contact us today and see how our Consultants can help with Outplacement support and our Career Coaches can help your team build resilience.