When you apply for a job interview, but get turned down by the employer, you naturally get disappointed. But it does not mean that you will make bad statements either about the company or the employer. Candidates doing so only narrow down their chances of being considered as future prospects for any position in that company. Thus, the way you respond to a job rejection letter is always important without taking the outcome much into consideration.
You never know what’s going to happen next. Maybe, after a couple of months the hire will resign and you will get a call back from the employer. But this can only happen when you make the employer remember you. This is specifically why you need to write a courteous email to the employer in response to the rejection letter requesting to consider you for future vacancies. Here we’ve presented the proper procedure of responding to an employment rejection letter. Please read on.
Reply Quickly
There is no difference between your thank-you note and your reply to rejection email. Both these letters need to be sent as quickly as possible. It’s best to send the reply within a day after your interview. Make sure your reply is fully professional and gracious in both the cases. A quick response tells the employer that you’re prompt, careful and really enthusiastic, so s/he recalls you when there is any vacancy in the future.
Follow Standard Business Letter Format
While writing the reply you must follow the proper business letter-writing format. You have to start with “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Mr. X”. Then use 2 line-spaces to start your body (hit enter two times) and one line-space between two paragraphs. You should always end your business letter with proper closing mentioning “Sincerely yours” or “Best wishes”. Use simple and formal language. You cannot include slang words or abbreviated forms in the business email.
Thank the Employer
Never forget to thank the employer even if you are not selected. You should thank him or her because of their time and meeting with you. You should also thank the interviewer for allowing you to know about the company and learn a lot during the interview. You should use your thank-you statement following your salutation statement.
Don’t Question the Employer
You should always feel happy with the employer’s decision instead of questioning it. A sentence like “Thank you for the time you spent meeting and talking with me. I am happy with your decision in selecting a suitable employee for the position.” is a way better to impress your employer than any statement that would go against his or her decision. Acknowledging the employer’s decision makes him or her consider you as a suitable prospect in future.
Build a Relationship
No matter if it is a win or loss in the interview, take the positives out of it. Appreciate the time your interviewer spent with you and retain your hopes of becoming a perfect suit for another requirement in that company. Write all your appreciations in your reply so that the reply can act as a relationship builder. HR executive Suzanne Lucas, in “How to Respond to a Job Rejection Email”, an article published on “U.S. News & World Report”, has suggested all potential candidates to establish a relationship with the employer. If at all possible, try discussing about your industry experience with the employer.
Ask for Feedback
Career and Life coach Christine Hassler, in a Huffington Post article – “Making the Most Out of Job Rejection” recommends asking for feedback in the reply to the rejection letter. This will cement your impression and the employer will more likely consider you for the next interview than any other candidate. Feedback matters and you need to work on your shortcomings.
Inquire About Other Opportunities
If you are really passionate about the company, you should mention it in your reply by asking the employer if they have any vacancy in any other department. Many candidates are out there who prefer joining their dream company rather than a dream job. The employer knows this and s/he would surely refer you to any other position or internship project if you’re found to be a good fit.
To make a good impression on the employer, who you might encounter in the future, you need to make him or her happy. A polite response to the rejection letter is what ends the story on a positive note, or makes way for another eventful journey.