8 lessons to learn from an audition rejection

I saw this the other day for what you can do when you are rejected for a job. I decided to tweak it a little bit based on the acting world when you don't get the part you auditioned for.

As a booking agent, my talent are always asking what they can do better next time, or, if it's their first audition, how should they prepare. For some reason, actors go in to an audition as somebody else and putting up their guard in hopes to protect them from any criticism. What they don't understand, is the auditioner wants to see what you are like first. What's your personality like? Are you easy to work with? Do you know what you are doing? Once they can see you, show them what you can do!

So here's a few ways you can help yourself when going in for an audition time and time again.

(original link https://www.lifehack.org/articles/work/8-lessons-you-can-learn-from-job-interview-rejection.html )

1. Always be yourself.

For a while, [I] entered auditions acting like the person I thought the company wanted me to be. Most casting directors are smart enough to figure out whether or not you are actually a good fit for the job, and if you’re even really interested for the part. You have nothing to lose by simply being genuine when you first enter the room.

2. Be confident.

Confidence is attractive to casting directors. For a company to believe in your abilities, you need to believe in yourself. They want a talent who trusts his/her gut and makes difficult decisions without looking back. There is a reason the company called you in for an audition. It was something more than just your look. Sometimes, you need to approach an audition like a tryout for an athletics team and put the competition to shame. Remember that this is a competition of sorts, so don’t sell yourself short. Give them a performance they will remember!

3. Be humble.

You never want to be too self-assured, though. There is a major difference between being a team player and thinking you are the entire team. Nobody likes a showoff, and very few companies view arrogance as a desirable quality. Show that you believe in yourself, but remember that modesty shows maturity. There's enough divas in this industry, don't be one of them, especially if you are just starting out.

4. Being able to identify your weaknesses is a strength.

In an audition they don't typically ask â€œwhat is your biggest weakness?” , but if they have feedback, it's good to listen and improve on. While this might be more difficult to answer than a question about your strengths, it is just as important (if not more important) to understand the areas you can improve on. Part of modesty is acknowledging that you have weaknesses, as well as the patience and determination to turn those weaknesses into your greatest strengths. If you know the areas in which you excel and the areas in which you can improve, then you will be a much more valuable asset to any team.

5. Ask more questions.

Don’t be afraid to take the offensive. Become the interviewer for a portion of the audition if the time and situation allows it. This shows that you have interest in the project, and it gives you a chance to steer the conversation in the direction you want it to go. Almost every time, on the ride home from an audition, we will remember questions we wanted to ask the potential employer. This is a great opportunity to follow-up email or phone call to your booking agent, especially if it is a call back. This demonstrates your passion and perseverance. But remember to not call a client directly (could you imagine if 40-60 a day called you asking about an upcoming project that week?)

6. There is always room for improvement.

Let’s not kid ourselves; we can always get better. Find out what companies are looking for in a talent. Be sure to get feedback from your booking agent after the audition or booking if they client gave them any. If you’ve already been rejected, what do you have to lose by asking? This is when some of the most genuine dialogues occur, including my aforementioned experience. Quite often, you are doing everything correctly and just need to keep pushing forward. But if a continual amount of rejection comes with no call backs or no repeat clients to audition for, then it would be best to audition with your booking agent to get feedback. 

7. Be more than just a piece of paper.

Changing a few words around is not going to be the determining factor in an audition. Yes, your résumé is important, so make sure you have the correct template if you don't know what to use. But no company is going to hire a piece of paper. The personality, the skills, and the work ethic of the person behind the résumé is the key to winning the audition.

8. Sometimes, rejection is a blessing in disguise.

Adversity makes future success taste even sweeter. Sure, it is a nice feeling to have the world in the palm of your hand, but the process of reaching out and grabbing it is what truly matters. And that is something we must never forget: it’s a process. So, let’s worry about the things we can control and learn to put less weight on the things we can’t. All we can do is continue to get better and hope that our progress doesn’t go unnoticed.

While getting turned down is certainly not the best feeling in the world, there are definitely some lessons you can learn from an audition rejection. Hopefully, we can use these lessons that [I] have learned personally to keep improving. And I’m willing to bet that every time one of us goes into that audition, we will take away something valuable from the experience, regardless of the outcome.