The secret to academic 'success': failing often

Academic careers are filled with moments of triumph, intellectual excitement, and personal growth. But woven into this path are also threads of rejection and failure—grant proposals denied, papers rejected, job applications unanswered, and/or promotions delayed. For women and other minoritised groups in academia, these challenges are often exacerbated by systemic biases, making failure feel even more personal.

?Despite these hurdles, rejection and failure are not indicators of your lack of ability or potential. They are an inevitable part of the academic process that everyone, from early-career researchers to senior faculty, experiences. So, how can you deal with academic rejection and failure in a healthy and productive way? Here are a few strategies.

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Normalise rejection: It happens to everyone

One of the most important steps in dealing with rejection is to recognise that it's a universal experience. Everyone, no matter how accomplished, has faced rejection in academia. Even the most celebrated scholars have a drawer full of rejected papers and failed grant applications. By normalising rejection, you can begin to view it as a stepping stone rather than a roadblock.

?Academic success is often seen publicly—the papers that get published, the keynote talks given, the awards won. But what is hidden are the multiple failures behind each success. Remember, for every "yes" you receive, there are usually many "nos." Most of my papers and grants get rejected, at least in the early rounds. However, I try to pick them up again, in one form or another. The feeling used to sting, but after many and many rejections, I seem to be developing at least a little bit of immunity. The first rejections were the ones that hurt the most.

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What you can do:

• Find inspiration: talk to a colleague that you regard as successful and who you look up to, and ask them if they are willing to discuss their own experiences of rejection and how they handle setbacks.
• Make a rejection list: write a list of at least three academic rejections you have faced, and next to them, write what you have learnt and how it is shaped your academic journey.
• Visualise your progress: Set up a document with a table that lists both your rejections and achievements. As you keep logging them, you will see the progress you have made, and this will help you normalise the balance between success and rejection in your academic career.

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?Reflect on the learning opportunity

Failure often feels painful because it triggers feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt, feeding our impostor syndrome. However, it can be incredibly productive if reframed as a learning opportunity. Ask yourself, “What can I take from this?” Whether it’s improving your methodology, clarifying your argument, or learning how to better position yourself for a future opportunity, failure often points the way to growth.

?For women and minoritised groups, this reflection may also include examining the structural barriers at play. Sometimes, failure isn't about your work but the biases and inequities that shape who gets published, funded, or promoted.

?What you can do:

• Journal reflection: take 10 minutes to write about a recent academic rejection. Write about what happened, how it made you feel, and what 'one thing' you can learn from this experience to help you in the future.
• Identify areas for growth: on a piece of paper, create a table with two columns. In the first column, list the reasons you identify for the rejection (e.g. further methodological work needed, lack of theoretical contribution, not enough clarity, insufficient demonstration of potential impact, etc). In the second column, list specific actions or changes you could make based on these shortcomings (e.g. learn a state of the art methodology, read about theorising, etc). This activity can help you turn reflection into actionable steps.
• Reframe rejection: write a short statement that reframes rejection as an opportunity for growth. For example: “This rejection was difficult, but it has given me a clearer understanding of how to strengthen my argument and position myself for future success.”

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Separate your self-worth from your achievements

It’s easy to internalise academic rejection and failure, especially in a field where output is so closely tied to identity and success. But it's essential to separate your self-worth from your academic achievements. You are not your CV. A rejection or failed project does not define your abilities, nor does it determine your potential for future success. Building resilience involves developing a strong sense of self that isn’t reliant on external validation.

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What you can do:

• Map your identities: take a few minutes to list aspects of your identity that have nothing to do with your academic achievements (e.g., relationships, hobbies, personal values, skills). Reflect on how these aspects contribute to your overall sense of worth and well-being.
• Alternative CV: create an 'alternative CV' that lists all the things that you are proud of that are unrelated to your academic accomplishments. This could include personal achievements, acts of kindness, overcoming challenges, or growth in other areas of life.
• Visualise your qualities: draw a circle representing yourself. Around the circle, write qualities or strengths that make you resilient, such as perseverance, empathy, creativity, or critical thinking. None of these should be tied to your academic CV—focus on personal strengths that contribute to who you are as a person.

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?Build a support network

One of the most effective ways to cope with rejection is by leaning on a support network. Surround yourself with people who understand the challenges of academia and can offer encouragement when things don’t go as planned. For women and minoritised academics, finding mentorship from those who have navigated similar paths can be particularly powerful.

?Being part of a community can help you gain perspective and remember that you're not alone in facing rejection. Whether it’s a colleague who has had a grant rejected multiple times or a mentor who shares their own struggles, knowing that others have been through it can be incredibly reassuring.

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What you can do:

• List your current network: write down the names of five people you consider part of your support system in academia. This could be mentors, colleagues, or peers. Next to each name, note how they’ve supported you in the past, and how you might engage with them more meaningfully in the future.
• Reach out to a mentor: if you don’t have a mentor already, identify one person in your field who you admire and who has faced similar challenges. If possible, try to connect with someone you already know or have met in a professional setting. Write them an email or message asking for advice or a short conversation about their experiences. Senior academics are often very busy. When you reach out, acknowledge that their time is valuable and let them know that you would appreciate even a short conversation. You could ask for 15-30 minutes of their time, which shows you are considerate of their schedule.
• Join or create a community: search for a local or online community group (e.g. the CYGNA for women academics) that aligns with your interests. If no group exists, consider starting one by inviting peers for regular check-ins on academic challenges, sharing advice, and offering mutual encouragement.

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Revise and resubmit: don’t give up

Resilience in academia often means revisiting rejected work, revising it, and resubmitting. Many grants are only funded after multiple rounds of applications, and many papers are only accepted after being rejected by multiple journals. This isn’t failure; it’s part of the process.

?A rejection often comes with reviewer feedback that can be used to strengthen your work. Use this as an opportunity to refine your ideas, improve your writing, or clarify your argument. Academic success often goes to those who are persistent, so don’t be discouraged by initial setbacks.

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What you can do:

• Review and reflect: take out a recently rejected paper, grant application, or any academic work you’ve received feedback on. Carefully re-read the reviewers’ comments or any feedback provided. Identify at least two specific areas where the feedback highlights potential improvements (e.g., clarity of argument, methodology, structure).
• Create an action plan: based on the feedback, write a short action plan for revising your work. List concrete steps you can take to address the reviewers’ concerns. For example, you might need to revise your hypothesis, include additional references, or clarify your methodology. Break down these tasks into small, manageable pieces. Creating this action plan in a table can also be helpful when responding to reviewers.
• Set a resubmission timeline: choose a realistic deadline for revising and resubmitting the work. Even if you don’t have an immediate opportunity for resubmission, setting a target keeps you moving forward. Make sure you diarise these milestones.

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Advocate for systemic change

While dealing with rejection on a personal level is necessary, it’s also important to address the structural issues that disproportionately affect women and other minoritised groups. Bias in peer review, unequal access to resources, and tokenism can all make rejection feel more personal than it should.

?By advocating for more transparent processes, better mentorship programs, and equitable hiring and promotion practices, you can contribute to changing the system for the next generation of scholars. Collective action is a powerful way to turn individual setbacks into momentum for change.

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What you can do:

• Amplify voices: identify scholars or colleagues from minoritised groups whose work or experiences you admire. Regularly take a few minutes to share their research, articles, or insights on social media, within your department, or across your network. By amplifying their voice, you are helping raise the visibility of those who may not have the same platform or recognition, which in turn can contribute to systemic change.
• Start a conversation with allies: approach one or two trusted colleagues (potential allies) to discuss challenges that you or other minoritised groups face in your institution. Keep it casual—perhaps during lunch or coffee. Talk about how these challenges manifest and how you could support each other in advocating for change, even in small ways. This conversation could evolve into a mutual support system that amplifies your collective voice.
• Participate in surveys and initiatives: many institutions conduct surveys or initiatives aimed at understanding the climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Take the time to participate and provide detailed responses. Your input is crucial to help guide changes in institutional policies.
• Advocate for inclusive mentorship programmes: approach your department or faculty leadership with a suggestion to formalise or expand mentorship programs for minoritised (early-career) academics. Propose hosting a mentoring event or informal gathering where senior staff share strategies for overcoming rejection, managing bias, and navigating the academic landscape. Emphasise that these programs don’t have to be resource-intensive to have a meaningful impact.

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?Celebrate the small wins

In a field where large successes are often few and far between, it's important to celebrate the small wins. These could be as simple as receiving positive feedback from a colleague, being asked to review a paper, or finishing a challenging draft. By focusing on the incremental progress, you remind yourself that success is not an all-or-nothing game.

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What you can do:

• Reflect on your wins: choose a recent 'small win' and take 5 minutes to reflect on why it was significant. Ask yourself: What did this achievement mean to me? How did it bring me closer to my long-term goals? How can I celebrate this accomplishment today (e.g., sharing the news with a friend, taking a break, or rewarding yourself)?
• Set a small goal and celebrate: Set a short-term goal for the week (e.g., writing 500 words). Once you’ve achieved it, consciously celebrate by acknowledging your progress—whether through a small treat, telling a colleague, or simply taking a moment to reflect on your success.
• Create a visual reminder of your wins: start a “Small Wins Board.” Each time you experience a small win, add it to the board (e.g. online on Trello, or physically on a wall). By the end of the semester or year, you’ll have a visual reminder of all your incremental achievements. This exercise can boost morale when the larger successes feel distant.

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Conclusion

Remember, academic rejection and failure are difficult, but they are also part of the journey. By normalising rejection, separating your self-worth from your achievements, and using failure as a learning tool, you can build resilience and continue to thrive in your career. For women and minoritised academics, the journey may come with additional hurdles, but by building strong networks of support and advocating for systemic change, we can create an academic environment where all scholars have the opportunity to succeed. True success in academia is not only about published papers or grants; it's about persistence, learning from setbacks, and building supportive networks.

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If you have any feedback on this blog post or suggestions for further topics you'd like to see addressed, please feel free to share your thoughts. I am committed to providing valuable content that meets your needs and helps you succeed in your academic career.

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If you'd like to explore these strategies in greater depth or get personalised advice, I'd be happy to work with you one-on-one. Schedule a 45-minute mentoring session with me to develop tailored strategies that fit your unique goals. Each session is priced at €100, with the first session available at a 50% discount. Contact me today to take the next step in your academic journey.