Should I Reply to Rejection Emails?

?? Welcome back to Never Job Search Alone! This week we're covering rejection emails. Should you reply to them? Here's our take.?

Q: Should I respond to rejection emails? I've built a relationship with the hiring manager and would like to know what happened.

A: We've all been in this situation at some point in our careers. If you can't relate, consider yourself lucky!

You applied for the job, aced the interview, and then received a rejection email. Now thinking, "What went wrong?" and "What should I do next?"

First, let's acknowledge that this doesn't feel good. However, it doesn't need to be the end of your journey with this company. If they gave you an interview, they considered you a strong candidate among the stack of resumes!

Here’s how you can reframe rejection and turn it into a stepping stone for your career.

We encourage you to keep in touch and thank them for the opportunity and consideration. It helps to build rapport and signals you're still interested in the organization.

This could also be an opportunity to ask for feedback on your resume, work experience, or interview. While employers aren’t required to respond to your request, any insight they provide could be helpful for future applications to the organization.

A simple, polite email such as:

“Thank you for the opportunity to interview for [Position]. I enjoyed getting to know more about [X company]. I appreciate your consideration. If possible, could you share feedback about my interview performance or areas I could improve for future opportunities?”

Or

Thank you for the opportunity to interview! I truly enjoyed learning about [X company] and would love to stay in touch for future opportunities.”

These short but effective messages might just make the difference in landing your next role.

Rejection can provide clarity and motivation to refine your approach for the next opportunity. Remember, you're still making progress — even if it doesn't feel that way.

Bonus tip: Don't wait for a rejection email to reach out. Thank them after the initial interview to express your enthusiasm for the role!

More of a visual learner? Check out our video ??

Thinking of pivoting your career? Join our Career Change workshop!

Changing?careers is not easy, and everybody’s path will look different, but there are some?tried-and-true methods and best practices for how to successfully shift into a new industry?or a different line of work.?

December 4th @ 12pm PT | Zoom

Register at https://bolywelch.com/career-changes-workshop/

Do you prefer email or phone call job rejections? ?? Let us know! ??