Sob - Ok, so if you feel like you want to moan, scream, cry or all three it's best to get this all out of your system. Once you've composed yourself...
Learn from your mistakes - You may find that you submit lots of applications but don't even get to the interview stage or that you go to several interviews and end up feeling like a professional interviewer. If you find that you are repeating the same thing over and over again and getting the same result it means you are missing something that is stopping you from reaching your goals. Don’t let your ego get in the way of assessing yourself, your applications and improving your interview skills.
Ask for feedback - If the employer has taken the time to call you to tell you you were unsuccessful, thank them for doing so and ask if there was any weak points in your interview you could address to help with future interviews. If you get a letter rather than a call, give them a call and do the above or if this fails send a brief email asking for any feedback.
If you fail at the first hurdle of an application, sometimes an employer will send a letter saying that they don't give feedback to unsuccessful applicants. In this instance, it is still worth making a quick call to see if you can get any feedback, however brief. Failing this, ask a friend, colleague or maybe a former tutor to look at your application and see if they can help you identify what you could do better.
Reflect - It may be that you do possess the required skills but that the information did not come across in your answers. Think about your interview answers again to make sure that they reflect your true abilities. If you are missing a particular skill or trait this may be time to look at ways that you can gain this skill through either a course or volunteering.
Don't take it personally - Remember that it’s an employer’s market. While you may be perfectly suitable for the position, there may be others that are just as suitable. Use each interview as a learning opportunity and remember all experience is useful experience. Finally, the best thing to remember is that applying for a job is like riding a bike – if you fall off, you get back on and try again!
