How To Handle a Rejection Letter After Interviews

Did you receive a rejection letter after interview?

Well, we understand that facing rejection isn’t easy, especially when you’ve been through a long interviewing process.

However, rejection is a normal part of any job-hunting journey. More importantly, a rejection letter isn’t always the end of the road.

Companies might consider you for other roles in the future. For that reason, you need to respond to the rejection email professionally and leave the door open for future opportunities.

Lucky for you, in today’s article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about writing and responding to a rejection letter.

Will You Get a Rejection Letter after an Interview?

Rejection is a normal part of your job hunt. Receiving a rejection email can be hard, especially when you nailed your interviews.

However, you might get rejected for many reasons.

For example, the hiring managers might’ve found a job candidate that’s slightly more skilled or has stronger qualifications than you.

After all, recruiters need to pick the most suitable candidate for the job.

There’s nothing to worry about! You’ll be the perfect candidate for another job. The most important part is knowing how to handle rejection and get ready for future opportunities.

What Does a Rejection Letter after an Interview Include?

The subject line of the email usually includes the job title. A candidate rejection email includes the following parts:

• Thank You for Your Time: The hiring manager will thank you for your interest in the role. As the interview process takes a lot of time and effort, the HR manager will also thank you for taking the time to apply for the job.
• Tells You You Didn’t Get the Job: After that, the recruiter will tell you the bad news. In some cases, the hiring manager will give you feedback about your interview or tell you why they picked another candidate for the role.

What to Say When You Get Rejected after an Interview?

After receiving a job rejection email, it’s best to respond within 48 hours. Overall, a rejection letter doesn’t mean you’re a bad candidate.

However, chances are the hiring managers found another candidate who had more experience. Sending a positive response can keep a door open for future opportunities.

Here’s how to do so:

Thank You for the Opportunity

Interviews take a lot of time and effort. The recruitment managers took the time to read your resume and interview you. They might have considered you for the role as well.

For that reason, you need to thank them for the opportunity and express your gratitude. Leaving a good impression is essential.

You can also show interest in the company and mention how you appreciated the opportunity to learn about it. The recruiters might consider you for other roles in the future.

Do You Have Any Feedback for Me?

You can ask the hiring managers for feedback about your interview performance. You can also ask them about the experience and skills you’d need to become the perfect candidate for this role.

That can help you work on your weak points and have better chances of getting accepted in future roles.

However, make sure your request doesn’t come across as a demand or as if you’re questioning their decision.

How Do You Write a Nice Rejection Letter?

Facing rejection can be hard for any job seeker. That’s why you need to be positive and professional when writing a rejection letter. Here’s how to do so:

Rejection Email after Interview Subject Line

The subject line for a rejection email should be clear and short. You can include the company’s name and the job title.

Here’s an example of a simple subject line you can use: “Your application for (job title) at (company’s name).”

What to Say in a Nice Rejection Letter

First, you need to thank the candidate for their time and effort. Second, you’ll need to clearly state that the candidate is rejected. Don’t leave any room for the unsuccessful candidate to think that you’re still considering them.

Ideally, you want to be polite and express your empathy, but you don’t have to apologize.

Many people feel tempted to apologize for not accepting a candidate, but this is a normal part of any hiring process. You have to pick the best candidate for your business.

After that, you can include why you didn’t select the candidate, even if it has nothing to do with their experience or skills.

For example, you could say that the competition for that role was strong, and the choice wasn’t easy.

You can then indicate that you chose to proceed with a candidate with more experience or closely fits the role’s requirements.

Finally, end the email positively by wishing them good luck on their job search.

How to Write a Nice Job Rejection Letter from Candidate

As a candidate, you might receive a job offer that’s not suitable for you. In that case, you need to write a job offer rejection letter.

When writing a job rejection email, you need to be honest about the reason behind your decision. More importantly, it’s important to show your appreciation for the opportunity.

Your mail should be short, clear, and to the point. Don’t go overboard with excuses and reasons.

However, before rejecting the offer, we recommend negotiating the terms that don’t feel suitable for you.

Overall, most companies expect you to negotiate the terms of the contract, especially the salary. More than 50% of candidates don’t take the chance to negotiate.

How to Respond to a Rejection Letter

Responding to a rejection letter can feel like a hassle for many people. However, it’s easy and simple. Here’s how to do so:

• Thank Them for the Opportunity: Start by thanking the recruiters for the opportunity. Then, express your gratitude and appreciation for their consideration and time. It’s essential to show the hiring manager that you’re still interested in working for the company. The hiring manager might consider you for other positions.
• Keep It Positive: It’s essential to keep your answer positive. By doing that, you’ll show professionalism and leave a door open for future opportunities. End your email on a positive note by saying that you hope you’d cross paths again in the future.

How Long Should a Rejection Letter Be?

Your rejection email should be short, clear, and straightforward. Avoid writing long emails and going into details.

In case you’ll mention the reason for the rejection, it should be simple and positive. Don’t apologize for choosing another candidate.

How Do You Give Negative Feedback after an Interview?

Negative feedback can be hard to receive, but it helps you acknowledge your weak points and work on them. It can also help you see other people’s perspectives and put you back on the right track.

Here’s how to give negative feedback after an interview:

How Does an Interviewer Give Negative Feedback after an Interview?

As an interviewer, you want to keep your feedback to the point. More importantly, you need to soften the negative with the positive.

To elaborate, you can start by mentioning one of the candidate’s strong points. Then, point out the weaknesses that led you to pick another candidate.

The positive part can make the feedback more acceptable and easier to process. It’s best to provide examples from the interview to back up your claims.

The examples can justify your decision and show the applicants how to improve themselves.

You can be as specific as you want. Let the candidate know the exact reason you rejected them. Further, you can briefly suggest ways for the candidate to work on their weak points.

Don’t forget to thank the applicant for their time and effort!

How Does a Candidate Give Negative Feedback after an Interview?

If you faced an issue during your interview, you need to understand that it’s probably not intentional. Interviewers don’t want to give you a hard time.

However, they have to go through countless resumes and conduct interviews to pick a small number of candidates that can be suitable for the job.

However, bad interviewers are out there, and you might end up in an interview with one of them. In that case, you should stay positive and calm.

Don’t give them negative feedback directly, as that can reduce the chances of you getting the job.

That said, if the situation is uncomfortable or unprofessional, you can ask to leave the interview politely. Keep in mind that this behavior doesn’t represent the company.

Wrapping Up

Receiving a rejection letter after interview can be hard for any candidate. However, you need to understand that it’s a normal part of your job hunt. You also need to reply to the email.

Start by thanking the interviewer for their time and consideration.

It’s best to leave a good impression, as the recruiters might consider you for other positions in the future.

After that, you can ask for feedback about your interview performance. The feedback can help you acknowledge your weak points and work on them.

Finally, end your email on a positive note by expressing your appreciation for this opportunity.