Received my first job rejection letter...do I laugh or cry?

BigBouncyBall

funny rejection letter.

I frame all of mine above my desk - when i need a bit of inspiration i just look up and read them. Nothing like someone telling you're a failure to drive you prove them wrong.

merlinormartin

Good Luck with your job hunting!

'competitive' salary is £18k

Your right, 18k is not competitive for a graduate scheme.

Stubert

Astraeus wrote: »

In my opinion, that's cause for humour and not dejection. It reminds me a lot of the man who turned me down for a job at B&Q last summer. Whilst I am not the slightest bit elitist, it did tickle me to read exactly how he worded my rejection given the quality of applicant for which he stated he was looking. Two weeks later, I get two job offers from law firms! Good things come...

Can't be too sure what sort of job you went for but considering you got offers from two law firms might suggest you were a bit over qualified or not suitable for the job!

3plus1

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

sorry should have said most of the decent grad stuff

The Big 4 recruit all year round. Go on, come join the dark side...

Actually, I think a lot of graduate recruiters are beginning to take into consideration that a lot of students miss the 'milkround' at the start of their final year because they're far too busy worrying about their studies...

I know that this time last year, quite a few big names reopened their schemes and extended deadlines because they hadn't had enough successful candidates. Keep an eye on the deadlines on Milkround.com - really useful stuff.

Never take rejections to heart - when you're looking for a graduate job, it's something you have to just get used to. I ended up with some pretty decent offers, but I also didn't hear back from around 30 companies (no acknowledgement of application or any polite 'Sorry, you weren't what we were looking for'). I'm not even including the number of rejections I received where I was informed I was being rejected.

NoNameWoman

Dont be disheartened by your first 'unsuccessful' application, and don't let it it put you off searching. I would just dismiss it since they don't sound professional enough for you to approach them asking about the reasons. What you should do is
1. Apply for as many jobs as possible, preferrably ones that are related to your field or ones that you have experience in. Look in the local Newspaper, register with agencies, look on the Internet
2. Write a good CV where you spoonfeed them your skills. Remember that the interviewers don't know you and so you need to sell yourself. What remains of the interview is only your answers or rather the notes that they have taken from your answers.
3. It is very important to support your answers by EXAMPLES so talk about real solid examples to support your answers rather than general 'I am great at using software, I am effecient, etc...' Say them but be so specific and
particular
4. Keep eye contact during the interviews, even if you have a panel, try to look at them all. This shows you as confident of what you are saying etc..

Good luck and keep on trying.

greyster

I applied for 60 jobs on my placement year when i was on my undergraduate. Was accepted on my 4th job interview (declined by 3 FTSE companies and accepted by a military agency).

For over a year I wanted to join the Navy (as an IT officer) and was rejected. The whole process took a year so big smack in the head.

After doing my masters, i must have applied for about 100+ over 3 months (unemployed). Before I got offered a 30k job. It was in the middle of no where and paniced, so declined the role and accepted a 27k (outside IR35) + all expenses job in the South East. I work somewhere else now.

Looking back (from 2 years ago) my thoughts:

Job hunting is a job in itself. There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I was the first to go to uni in my family and my mum especially got worried a lot about whether I would get a 'decent job' after uni. To be honest the fear had crossed me on occassion.
NEVER give up.
NEVER settle for second best.
You have to be patient.

And most importantly:

Each interview makes you stronger. I was crap on my first interview (on my placement year)... and I destroyed on my last interview. It wasn't just confidence, I knew the game.

Good luck.