After a busy term of juggling applications with study and extra-curriculars, it can be disheartening when you receive rejection emails or hear nothing at all from employers. In this blog, we explore practical steps you can take to help you feel more in control of and move forward with your job search.
You’ve been researching organisations, crafting a good CV, writing a tailored cover letter and preparing for assessments but, frustratingly, there’s still a lot that influences the outcome of your applications which you have no control over at all.
The Institute for Student Employers annual student recruitment survey highlighted an anticipated 5% growth in graduate vacancies this year, however in the 2022-23 cycle there were an average of 86 applications per vacancy, up from an average of 70 applications per vacancy in 2021-22 – a trend that is expected to continue. This leaves some employers in the nice position of having plenty of equally excellent candidates to choose from, while students and graduates might be left wondering whether they’re doing something wrong as they receive another rejection email.
The truth is, many recruitment decisions aren’t personal, you can do everything ‘right’ and may still find yourself in a position of not reaching the next stage or receiving the dreaded rejection email. It can be especially frustrating when you don’t receive any feedback to help you process the employer’s decision. If you’re feeling stuck, here are some steps you can take to move forward.
Pause and take stock
Taking a moment to pause and take stock can give you some space to think about how you might want to approach the next phase of your job search. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
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What drew you to apply to these industries, roles or grad schemes in the first place? Reminding yourself of your initial motivation can help reinvigorate your job search!
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How are you currently feeling about the opportunities you’ve been applying for?Receiving rejections or little feedback can cloud your thinking. Taking a step back, do you still feel enthusiastic about these roles? Are you questioning whether it’s what you really want to do? Have you realised your heart wasn’t really in it from the get go? All of these feelings are valid, and recognising them can help you to consider how you approach your next steps.
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How many applications have you really made? Have you been quite selective and focused in your application strategy? Have you been firing off lots of applications but not taking the time to ensure they’re of a high quality? Both of these approaches may have implications for the success of your applications.
What you do next will be dependent on your motivations and aspirations, but here are a few ideas!
Broaden the range of organisations you’re applying to
If you’ve been selective and targeted in your application strategy and feel strongly that you want to continue applying to similar roles/industries, could you broaden the range of organisations that you’re applying to? Household names and top tier firms receive huge numbers of applications, but there may be other organisations that deliver what you’re looking for in terms of work, development opportunities and culture. Revisit job search sites and perhaps take another look at some of the opportunities you’ve overlooked so far.
Consider other ways of gaining relevant experience
Recent analysis by GradConsult estimated that 11% of graduates start their career through a corporate graduate scheme. There’s plenty of graduate level jobs out there, but they won’t necessarily say ‘graduate’ in the job ad. Likewise, if you’re considering a particularly competitive career like consulting or law it’s possible to gain relevant experience to help you move into those industries in the future. Use the Careers Service sector pages and browse alumni on LinkedIn to help you get a sense of the types of jobs that can help you to kickstart your career and where you can find them.
Switch Up Your Job Search Strategy
Sometimes, all you need to move forward is to switch up your job search strategy. If you’ve been visiting the same vacancy sites you may feel like you’re running out of opportunities to apply for. Check out our Smart Job Searching resources to help you explore a wider range of methods to source opportunities.
Seek feedback outside of the recruitment process
One of the biggest hurdles to managing rejection is receiving limited or no feedback from employers to help you understand what, if anything, you could be doing differently.
Book a 1:1 appointment with our Careers Consultants for guidance on your approach to job searching, applications and interview technique, including mock interviews.
If you’re looking for industry specific guidance, consider reaching out to an alumni or someone working in the sector for an informational interview. This can help you to better understand what organisations are looking for, what’s influencing their hiring and some contacts may be willing to offer feedback on your application material.
Is it time to think about something else?
It’s normal for rejection to make you question whether you’re doing the right thing and it may be that taking a moment to pause makes you realise you’d like to consider some other options. To get you started, use the self-reflection toolkits and ‘how to pick a career’ resources available from the Careers Service website.
Don’t forget to look after yourself during your job hunt
Searching for and applying for jobs requires a lot of emotional energy. Check out our blog for practical tools on how to manage your wellbeing during this stressful period.