How to Deal With Failure During a Job Search

Are you in the middle of a job search that keeps coming up short? 

Continued disappointment in your job search feels a lot like failure. It can feel defeating, even crushing. 

Learning to handle failure in your job search and career is essential for personal growth and development. Appropriately navigating the consequences and outcomes of failure teaches you to manage negative emotions, develops perseverance, and helps you foster a growth mindset. Failure doesn't have to be a total downer, but that doesn't mean it's not rough sailing—especially in the workplace and job search, where so much rests on performance and results. It's hard not to take it personally. 

Here are some tips for how to handle disappointment in your job search: 

Acknowledge the Frustration 

It's ok to be disappointed. Having a growth mindset and choosing to learn from failure doesn't mean you have to be Pollyanna. Refusing to acknowledge frustration and disappointment can morph into unhealthy coping mechanisms as you avoid what is happening in your mind. Instead, recognize the letdown and give yourself some space to be disappointed. 

Acknowledge Any Irrational Untruths 

When handling failure, it's easy to start believing irrational untruths. For example – 

• I can never succeed at anything after this.
• Everyone thinks I'm a failure. 
• Everyone is judging me. 
• Everyone else is doing better. 
• I'll never arrive where I'm supposed to be.
• I don't deserve success or a good job.
• There's no point in trying again. 

These are irrational thought patterns that are untrue and unproductive. It's essential to identify them and discredit them as nonsense. Instead, focus on the truth –

• Failure does not define me! 
• I will learn from my mistakes! 
• I can try again, and I will succeed! 
• Others have struggled as well — we are all on a journey! 
• The approval of others does not define me!

Changing your mindset and believing what is true is vital to dealing with failure in your job search and life! 

Take a Look at What Went Wrong 

Looking for a job takes time and is not something you "know how to do" as soon as you enter the workforce. So, when responding to job search disappointment, accept personal responsibility for areas where you can improve. Ask yourself good questions like – 

• What can I do differently next time? 
• What can I learn from this experience? 
• What factors are in my control? What factors are not? 
• Are my expectations unrealistic? 
• Is there a pattern in my setbacks? 
• Who can I reach out to for help? 
• What support and resources do I need to refine my skills? 
• Am I missing any required skill sets for the positions I'm seeking? 

Asking yourself honest questions and being honest with the answers will help you grow from the failures instead of wallowing in them.

Analyze Feedback 

Find people more experienced than you, and tap into their knowledge. When you receive feedback from your friends, mentors, and even recruiters or hiring managers, take the time to analyze their observations and feedback, then put them into practice. 

Create a Plan 

Based on the questions you ask yourself and the feedback you receive from trusted mentors and support, start creating a plan to do things differently. Maybe this means taking time to – 

• Develop or enhance new skills. 
• Refine your resume and cover letter. 
• Polish your LinkedIn profile. 
• Practice your interview skills. 
• Broaden your search to new areas and roles. 
• Expand your networking sphere. 
  

Be Persistent 

One of the number one reasons to not be too discouraged while job searching is that, sometimes, it just takes time. Channel your positivity to keep going, keep trying, and keep looking! 

Searching for a job is tough, but we can help! If your job search is dry, contact us at Career Concepts, where we've been matching the best people to the best employers for more than 50 years! With quality, excellence, and authentic service, our goal is to ensure you make your goals! Contact us today, and let's get started!