Learning to Accept Rejection
Trying Your Best
The very first company I applied to this recruitment season was no coincidence. I had wanted to join this company’s team for a very long time. I loved their open embrace of bettering yourself every day through your work. I loved how they consider every experience a learning experience. Most importantly, I admired the many extremely hard-working, knowledgeable people there. I was and still am nothing less of a huge fan of theirs. I wasn’t simply carelessly crossing off yet another application on my checklist.
So, I got to work. I crafted the best resume and cover letter I was capable of, meticulously prepared answers ahead of time for the myriad of interviews I would participate in, and closely studied every material I was provided, all while being unapologetically the best true representation of myself, flaws and all, throughout the entire process. This was the culmination of all of my learning, and efforts-it was nothing short of the best I could do.
Rejection!
Then I got rejected. I was absolutely devastated. It’s hard not to take these decisions personally when you invest so much of yourself into something that resulted in failure, especially when the hiring processes of many companies has become so much more personal than ever before.
Moving On
As for the company, I can still only say great things. I couldn’t have possibly had a more positive interview experience. I learned a ton, made connections, and had fun. My experience was all of the things a great application process should be and more. But the most important lesson I took away from the experience came after it ended short.
The most important lesson I took away from the experience came after it ended short.
I wore my heart on my sleeve throughout the entire process and still came up short. And that’s ok. This applies to college application, job, and award decisions, among others. Trying your best isn’t always enough-many of the variables in the equation are entirely out of your control. But this isn’t the end. Remind yourself that one rejection, as much as it might hurt at the moment, doesn’t define you. Remember that you will find your match. And it’s going to be super exciting when you do!
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Garrett is a 2021 graduate of the University of South Carolina where he majored in computer information systems. He serves as the lead developer of Paving Your Path to College. In his free time, he volunteers for The Special Olympics and tinkers with software and programming. Check out his projects on Github!
