Dealing with Rejection: Strategies for Academic Job Applicants

At UniJobs we believe that working in an academic institution is one of the best moves for your personal and professional growth, so it’s no surprise that many people are now seeking the opportunities and stability of working in an academic environment. As a result, the academic job market has become notoriously competitive, with an increasing number of qualified candidates applying for a limited number of positions.

Despite your best efforts to gain qualifications and experience, and then writing that killer personal statement, rejection following the submission of an application for an academic job is always disheartening. However, it’s important to remember that rejection is a natural part of the job search process and does not diminish your worth as an academic or educator. In fact, it’s a cliché, but we do believe that you should consider rejection not simply as rejection, but simply as feedback and sometimes as an opportunity for redirection. So, what are the best strategies for coping with rejection and moving forward with resilience and determination?

Firstly, there’s no harm shame in allow yourself to feel the disappointment. Rejection from a job can make you feel disappointed, frustrated, and doubt yourself. Engage, acknowledge, and validate these emotions rather than suppressing them, as this will help you to put close to those feelings and understand that this is simply part of the normal process in the academic job search journey. It is often useful to speak to friends and family and colleagues about what happened to understand what went wrong, but also to get some feedback and remind you that you are valued.

As mentioned earlier, whilst it is upsetting, rejection can also provide an opportunity for redirection – and this can lead to growth through self-reflection. Whilst most recruitment and human resources departments indicate that they won’t provide feedback on your application, if there was a key contact named in the job advert, you could consider reaching out to them to ask them for some brief feedback. If doing so, be mindful that people are often busy and they may have received many applications and so providing feedback may not be possible. However, make the request, allow some time for them to respond, and then follow it up with a follow-up e-mail. However, if you do not hear back, it’s best to not push them as this may damage any future applications you may make for any other roles they may have available.

If you do receive some feedback, constructive criticism can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement, whether it’s enhancing your areas of expertise, strengthening your personal statement, or enhancing your interview skills. As an educator it you will be well versed to embracing feedback as a learning opportunity and use it to enhance your future job applications. Always be gracious and thankful for the feedback, and never argue with it, however much you may disagree with their assessment.

Following a rejection, it’s also natural to dwell on aspects of the application process that were beyond our control. So, we advise that you avoid fixating on those factors that you can’t control such as the preferences of the recruitment panel or the competitiveness or the other applicants, as this will just add to feelings of helplessness and frustration. Instead, focus on aspects you can control, such as networking, professional development, and developing your skills and expertise.

If you’re going for a role in an organisation that you currently work within, or you are familiar to, how you deal with rejection is very important as colleagues will be reflecting on this response. Resilience is key in these situations – the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adversity with renewed determination and strength, is what will set you apart from others and potentially help in your future recruitment endeavours. It is essential to maintain a resilient mindset and remind yourself of your accomplishments, strengths, and the value you bring to the academic community. Everybody in every career has faced rejection before achieving their goals, so remember this and use their stories as motivation to move you forward in your journey.

Earlier we spoke about rejection and redirection, rejection from a particular academic job may also encourage you to consider the multiple pathways to success within academia. Consider exploring alternative opportunities such as visiting lecturer positions, fellowships, or research assistant roles that will help you develop the skills you need or allow you entry into an organisation to they can see your brilliance. These experiences can provide valuable skills, networks, and insights that enhance your competitiveness for future academic positions.

Finally, dealing with rejection following the submission of an application for an academic job can be challenging, but don’t let this assessment effect how you feel about yourself and your own self-worth. Remember that rejection is not a reflection of your worth as an educator, but rather a stepping stone in a journey to success. Keep going, and good luck.