Transitioning into a new field and job hunting are emotionally tasking. And honestly, we don’t talk about that part enough.

We don’t talk about how frustrating it can be to navigate a new path; how tiring it can get to apply over and over again; and how frustrating and heart-breaking it is to get rejection emails.

How do you navigate these difficult moments and pick yourself up to try again? How do you keep going regardless of the setbacks? How do you prepare to do better next time?

We’ll show you.

In this article, we talk about resilience – to help you navigate your job search and transition into the tech space as a non-coder. Your mental health matters and we want to help you take care of it during your job search.

You’ll learn:

• Why your application may be rejected
• How to deal with rejection
• Tactics to increase your acceptance rate for job applications
• How to take care of your mental health when applying for your transitional role

Resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from setbacks. – verywellmind.com 

Why was My Job Application Rejected?

Imagine this:

You spot a job ad. Gather your documents. And apply.

Some moments later, you get an email about your application. And you nervously open it. Then…

You read the dreaded line, “Unfortunately, we’re unable to proceed.”

“Why was my application rejected?”, you ask yourself.

Sometimes, your application is not rejected because you did not do something right. Some reasons are often beyond your control. You’ll identify them shortly.

Now, let’s see why your application may be rejected.

Job application rejections can come at different stages of the application process. It could be right after you submit your resume or after an interview. So we’ll discuss the reasons for both categories.

A. Pre-Interview Rejection Reasons

When your application is rejected after you submit your resume – during the screening stage, it could be for these reasons:

1. Your resume is not tailored to the job description. That is, not highlighting the required skills and experiences for the role in your resume.
2. Inconsistent external narrative. For example, discrepancies between your resume and LinkedIn profile.
3. Poorly formatted resumes. For instance, using fonts and templates that are difficult to read may not pass Applicant Tracking System (ATS) screenings.
4. Submitting generic application materials. Using one resume and cover letter for every job application.
5. Sloppy mistakes like grammatical errors in your resume, cover letter, etc, can give a bad impression.
6. No online presence to reinforce your qualifications.
7. Not using keywords from the job description will affect your resume score during ATS screenings.

B. Post-interview rejection reasons

When you go through with interviews but do not get the offer, your application may be rejected for these reasons:

1. Competition. A candidate with more relevant experience or qualifications might be chosen.
2. Not demonstrating enthusiasm or interest in the role and company during interviews
3. Cultural fit. If your values and working style don’t align with the company’s culture, they might go for someone whose own does.
4. Your salary expectations are beyond the company budget.
5. Internal hirings. Sometimes, companies prefer to promote from within rather than hiring externally.
6. Not highlighting transferable skills and telling good stories. If you don’t effectively communicate how your skills can be applied to the role, the interviewer might not see your potential.
7. No referrals or recommendations from insiders. Having someone within the company vouch for you can significantly boost your chances.
8. Not demonstrating your value well enough. The interviewer might not see your potential value if you don’t clearly articulate how you can contribute to the company’s success.

Did you identify some rejection reasons that may be beyond your control? Tell us in the comments section!

Note: You will only sometimes receive feedback from the HR team to tell you why you were not accepted. However, you can reach out to find out. You may not get a response but it’s worth the try.

When you get feedback, you’ll know why your application was rejected and can work on it to do better next time – if the reason for rejection was your fault.

How Do I Deal with Rejections?

We understand job rejections are hard to deal with. But with the right strategies, you can sail through them unscathed and get back on your feet – prepared to apply for your next job.

Below, we discuss tried and tested strategies to deal with job rejections and build resilience.

1. Acknowledge your emotions: Allow yourself to feel the disappointment that comes with a job rejection. Feel these emotions, but don’t dwell on them too much.

2. Don’t take it personally: Understand that a job rejection is not a reflection of your worth. It’s all part of the job search process.

3. Follow up and ask for detailed feedback: Reach out to the interviewer or hiring manager and ask for feedback. If a reason for your rejection wasn’t stated, ask for it. If it was, send a thank you note and let them know you’ll be happy to improve and apply next time.

4. Reflect on your application: Dedicate time to review your resume, cover letter, and interview performance. Document your learnings from this reflection.

5. Reflect on what you could have done differently: Use the feedback you received from the hiring team, together with what you discovered from your personal reflection to identify areas for improvement.

6. Learn from the rejection: Work on improving those areas in steps 5 and 6, and use this experience to improve your future applications.

7. Review and reflect on your strategy: If you’re facing multiple rejections, consider revising your job search strategy. Maybe you’re applying for too many roles at a time so you don’t do them well. Or you’re not networking enough. Or you’re using one resume to apply for every role. Figure out what the problem could be and address it.

8. Focus on your strengths: Remember your unique skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate. Dwell on them and write compelling stories showcasing these strengths. You’ll need them in your next application.

9. Keep applying: Continue applying for other jobs that align with your skills and interests. Don’t let the rejection(s) hold you back.

10. Expand your network: Networking can open up new opportunities. So attend industry events, join online communities, and connect with professionals in your field. Here’s a database of industry-specific communities.

11. Ask for help: Seek advice from friends, family, or the industry communities you join. These people can guide your job search process, and may even recommend you for opportunities.

12. Take care of your mental health: Take breaks when needed, exercise, and do activities you enjoy. Talk to your community – the people who can encourage you, affirm you and just be there for you. Don’t walk your rejection journey alone.

13. Treat yourself: Do something nice for yourself after a rejection. This can help lift your spirits and keep you motivated.

Remember, every rejection is a step closer to a job offer. Keep going, and don’t give up! 

Proven Tactics to Increase Your Acceptance Rate for Job Applications

If you’re facing constant job rejections, the issue could be your application or something out of your control – like layoffs, competition, etc.

You can change the former to influence the outcome of your next application – but not the latter.

Here are 10+ proven tactics to boost your application acceptance rate:

1. Research and read widely: This will help you to stay informed about your industry and the companies you’re interested in.

2. Let job descriptions be your friend: Thoroughly read job descriptions to understand what employers are looking for and tailor your application accordingly.

3. Change your job search strategy: Adapt your approach to job hunting. If you weren’t reaching out to hiring managers and employees to learn more about the role, add that to your strategy. Were you using the same resume and cover letter for every application? Change that – among others.

4. Find the gateway roles: Identify roles that can serve as stepping stones to your desired position.

5. Tailor your external narrative to suit where you’re going: Align your personal story and career goals with the job you’re applying for. Do this by customizing your LinkedIn profile and CV to align with the roles you want to land.

6. Learn how to market and sell your skills: Understand how to present your skills in a way that appeals to employers. Demonstrate your value and show how it can help the organisation achieve its goals.

A good rule of thumb is to always have a set of prepared stories or scenarios you can tailor to every application.

7. Network, Network, Network: Send cold messages and emails, join communities, and connect with professionals in your field. It could be your peers, those ahead of you, hiring managers, etc. Networking can often lead to job opportunities.

8. Send follow-up emails: After applying or interviewing, send a follow-up email to show your continued interest in the role.

I once applied for a role in a company that accepted applications on a rolling basis and they mentioned they expected candidates who were interested in interviewing to reach out at least 2 weeks after applying. This information was not in the job description but I was told after I reached out after a month of applying.

9. Conduct informational interviews: If you’re transitioning into a new field, you probably do not know much about the field and how to navigate the career change and job search process. So find people who are where you want to be and learn more about their journey, resources that helped, etc.

10. Identify an Anchor/Sponsor/Mentor. Learn more here:

11. Go the extra mile: Show initiative and willingness to go beyond what is expected in the job description. For instance, if cover letters are optional but there’s a section for uploading a cover letter, take advantage of that. Submit one.

12. Professional development: Continually improve your skills and knowledge by reading, taking courses, attending events, etc. Sometimes, there may be a skills gap you have to fill to land your next role. Identify those skills and learn them.

13. Engage in mock interviews: Improve your interview performance by practicing common interview questions and scenarios.

14. Always ask for feedback: That’s one way you can improve. If you’re rejected, ask for feedback to understand what went wrong and how you can do better next time.

Remember, the job search process can be challenging and extremely draining – especially when you’re not getting any callbacks after submitting an application or interviewing.

However, with the right strategies in place, you can work on what you can control and bounce back better – ready for your next application.

How To Take Care of Your Mental Health When Applying for Your Transitional Role

Career transitions are a rollercoaster of emotions. One day, you’re thrilled about your new field. The next, you’re stressed and anxious.

Ever felt like a fraud? You’re not alone💜

Here are 10 ways to take care of your mental health when applying for your transitional role:

1. Be patient with yourself: Career transitions take time — and it’s okay to not have everything figured out right away. Be patient with yourself and accept that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them.

2. Document your journey: Keep a journal to help process your feelings and keep track of your progress when transitioning into a new role.

3. Reflect and practice gratitude: Pausing and reflecting on your journey will help you identify milestones you can be grateful for.

See your transition into a new field as a journey rather than a destination. That way, you will not be overly fixated on the result. But instead, you can appreciate and learn from each step along the way.

4. Celebrate small wins: Each step you take towards your new career is an achievement. Did you successfully tailor your resume to your target role? That’s a win — celebrate it. This can boost your confidence and motivation.

5. Lean on your support system: Rely on your network or community for support. These people will encourage and advise you, remind you of your strengths and simply be there for you. If you don’t have a support system, try to build it.

6. Affirm yourself: Self-affirmation will help build your confidence. Plus, you can’t always rely on external validation. So create a list of affirmations for different aspects of your job search that trouble you. E.g. affirmations for anxiety, imposter syndrome, stress, etc.

7. Practice self-care: Engage in activities you love, treat yourself with gifts, or change your environment if needed.

8. Set realistic expectations: Understand the job market and set expectations accordingly. For example, if layoffs increase, competition for roles may be high. Knowing this will help you prepare better, stay patient, and not get discouraged if the job search takes longer than expected.

9. Embrace your journey: Everyone’s career transition is unique. So focus on your path and remember that success may come at different times for different people.

10. Take breaks: Don’t forget to rest and recharge. This can help prevent burnout and improve your focus.

Remember, it’s normal to experience a range of emotions during your career transition. And by taking care of your mental health during this process, you can navigate your journey more smoothly.

Always rooting for you 💜