Job Interviews - Dealing with Disappointment

The process of finding a job is a long and often tiring one and it can be devastating if you are interviewed for a job you would really love to do, but aren't offered the position. You know you did well at the interview, and so you ask yourself: "Why wasn't I hired?"

This is something which happens to everyone, but that doesn't make it any easier. Dealing with disappointment after an unsuccessful interview can be difficult. You may feel that it just isn't worth continuing after all the efforts you have made and that you will just have to take any job you can get.

However, the fact that you didn't get the job, doesn't mean that you couldn't do it. Often someone else had slightly more experience or would be a better fit in the team. This is not a reflection on you or your ability, just a fact. So you must learn not to take it personally.

It's important that you contact the company and ask for feedback. This will give you the reason that you weren't offered the post and then, instead of imagining that you are a total failure, you can take the next step.

>You may find that you need to brush up on one or two of your skills or that you need a couple of years' experience in a particular skill before applying for a similar post. Or you may have almost made it, with very little separating you and the successful candidate, which means that you should go ahead and apply for similar work elsewhere.

Interviews are also useful practice for the next time. You may have had difficulty with certain questions or tests and so you can think of better answers for the future.

As with anything in life, learn from the experience and you'll find that you can turn it to your advantage. And don't give up - the right job is out there, but you won't get it if you don't apply.

If you'd like to kick start your future by learning the 6 steps to effective career change, including how to ace that interview, click here to download my free e-book.

Waller Jamison is a careers advisor and university lecturer, who understands the difficulties involved in changing career and returning to study.