How to respond to job rejection after an interview

Being rejected for a job is not easy. You will likely be feeling a mix of emotions after hearing the news, including disappointment or frustration. This is a normal reaction, particularly if you invested a lot of time preparing your application and interview.

However, what you do next is important and can help set you up for future success. Taking the time to reflect on the experience and learn from it can help strengthen your job applications and interview performance moving forward.

So, what are some ways you can respond?

Acknowledge your emotions

It’s likely you will be feeling disappointed and that’s OK. Give yourself some time to process these emotions. However, it’s important to remain positive and move forward as quickly as you can.

When assessing the situation, it’s important to remember the things you did get right.

Ask for feedback

71% of job seekers say the biggest frustration is not hearing back from employers after they have interviewed for a role.
If you’ve missed out on a role, asking the interviewer for feedback can provide a great learning opportunity.

How to ask for feedback after a job interview

Make a polite request for feedback directly from the person who informed you of the status of your application.
Alternatively, you can email a relevant member of the hiring panel if you’ve been given their details throughout the interview process. If you don’t have their details, email the business’s HR team to request feedback.

You can also ask specific questions like:

• Are you able to provide me with any tips for specific skills or experience that I should work on that will better position me for such a role in the future?

• Can you recommend any ways that I could gain these skills or experience?

• Based on my performance in the interview, is there any specific feedback that you might have about my interview skills that might help me perform better in future interviews?

• Can you let me know if there were specific competencies that I didn’t satisfy in the recruitment process?

• Were there any competencies assessed in the interview where my examples let me down?

• Do you have any specific feedback on my interview technique? Is there anything I need to work on to be more successful in the future?

What to do when you receive feedback

If you receive feedback that demonstrates a weakness in a particular area, consider asking a mentor to help you improve.
You can also explore opportunities to build your skills within your current workplace.

The importance of self-assessment

It won’t always be possible to get feedback after your interview. Some organisations have policies that don’t allow it to be provided. Alternatively, you may receive feedback that is generic and not very useful.

This is where self-assessment becomes very important. Write down the questions you were asked immediately following the interview so you can assess your responses.

How to accept rejection

Remember not to take rejection personally. When you don’t get a role, it’s not always about how skilled or qualified you are.

Often you may have been up against internal candidates who will have had a strong advantage. Alternatively, someone may have simply stood out slightly more on the day.

While rejection can be disappointing, it can also provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on your job application and interview performance. Taking the time to strengthen your resume, selection criteria responses and interview preparation can improve your chances of success in future recruitment processes. Ensuring your application clearly demonstrates your skills, experience and suitability for the role can help you stand out to employers in competitive job markets.

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Article References

Indeed (11 December 2025) ‘Steps To Take When You Don’t Get the Job’, Indeed, accessed 13 March 2026.

Seek (18 February 2026) ‘Didn’t get the job? Here are 4 tips for what to do next’, Seek, accessed 13 March 2026.