Wow! Lately, I’ve been on a roll. But not the good kind where I find a $20 dollar bill in an old purse or I win a random Instagram giveaway. Instead, doors keep on slamming in my face one right after the other. Those pesky feelings of self-doubt and insecurity have me questioning my abilities non-stop the past few weeks. Will this ever end? Well, if you haven’t guessed it by now, I have been rejected over and over and it’s starting to take its toll (I mean with my level of stress , I feel like I’m an adolescent all over again with these crazy breakouts!) So, simply said – rejection sucks! I’m not being rejected by a guy or something silly like that (wait a minute, that’s not silly at all), but I’m being rejected by employers left and right because I’m on a serious job hunt right now and have been applying and interviewing like crazy. Come to think of it, it’s actually like being rejected by a guy because you get all dressed up for your first date aka “the interview” and then wait around for days upon days to hear back. You either never hear back or the standard, “You’re a great girl but I’m not looking for anything serious right now” aka your skills and qualifications do not match what we are looking for and we regret to inform you that another candidate has been selected…UGH!
With all the negative energy that’s being thrown my way, I’ve decided to make a change and hope the pendulum swings in the opposite direction. One things certain, when you hear NO a certain amount of times it’s only human nature to start feeling down and blue. Most importantly, you have to create a positive state of mind and no matter how many times you’re rejected, keep in the back of your head that things will turn around! I like to think that everything happens for a mysterious reason so that feeling of total rejection may seem that life is over but really bigger and better things are around the corner and something fabulous will soon present itself. Here are my top tips on how to stay positive when a simple two letter word – NO – can cripple everything you’ve worked so hard for.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
I cannot stress this enough because as the old adage states “misery loves company!” It’s important in a time when you are feeling discouraged to be surrounded by people who will support and uplift you. The power of a positive vibe is contagious and you will feed off that energy. Find a networking group or reach out to friends and family that will be your biggest cheerleader. It’s such an amazing feeling when you receive a happy text or phone call from your best friend, sister, boyfriend, mom or any loved one that says how proud they are of all your efforts or how excited they are for you because the opportunities are endless. Those positive thoughts light up your face with a smile and people will immediately notice your enthusiastic demeanor.
Know Your Value
Now is not the time be modest. Make sure you know your worth and the value that you can bring to a future employer. It can be so easy to go down the rabbit hole of not feeling skilled enough for the role or feeling you don’t have the right experience or education. Instead be confident in what you can bring to the table. Not tooting my own horn here, actually yes I am, but I have killer sales numbers and always make my quota (I work in sales). I work hard and I’m determined to always be the best. Any employer would be lucky to have an employee with my successful track record. Keep on reminding yourself that you are a total boss babe and your talents will pay off when you are in the right career.
Let Yourself Feel Everything
Don’t beat yourself up if you are angry, disappointed, sad, confused or any other feeling under the sun. Allow yourself to go through the emotions and be OK with the fact that you are disheartened. The key to this is not allowing those feelings to take over and it becomes your only focus. Perfect example, I applied for this job a couple of months ago and I went above and beyond to show them I really wanted the role. I flew to Dallas, Tampa, and San Diego for multiple interviews. I even presented a sales proposal to a group of 9. When the recruiter called to regretfully inform me that I did not get the position, I cried like a baby and became a recluse for a day. After all the negative emotions were released, I was able to pick up the pieces and move forward but if I didn’t allow myself to go through the process, I probably would be holding a grudge towards the company.
Be Grateful
It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself and start thinking woe is me! But you have to take a look at your surroundings and be grateful for all that you have. A gratitude of attitude is everything when you are going through a rejection phase. Most importantly, be grateful for the experience you had and LEARN something valuable that will help you down the road. I love this excerpt by Jess Lively , ” Setbacks are often the launching points for fantastic new adventures and deeper empathy. It’s all about how we approach them that determines the quality of our life.” I’ve been approaching these job rejections with a grateful attitude to have this blog! Although, I am not in my “dream job” I have an awesome blog with my best friend that allows us to be creative and inspire others.
Move On
You didn’t get the job? Well move on sista! There are so many opportunities and there is no need to dwell over every little thing you did/didn’t say or do during the interview. As I mentioned earlier, let yourself feel whatever it is you may be feeling and just move on to the next big thing. Things will get really good eventually but they will not happen if you are holding on to the past. Hindsight is 20/20 because there are countless times in my life where I have been going through such a tough time and I always thought that I would never get passed it. Now, I look back and laugh at myself wondering why I ever thought so negatively.
I’m excited to let time take its course and see what positive lessons comes from my current rejection streak. And if you’re on the same page as me right now, good luck and stay positive!
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