Ash Pollard: How to survive when you don’t get the job you want

Ash Pollard is best known as one of Australia’s most gifted home cooks. But underneath those signature spiral blonde curls, the television personality and radio-host has a noggin full of knowledge that she’ll be sharing exclusively with Be.

Over the next 12 weeks she’ll be sharing her top tips on how to tackle life’s trickiest situations— from what to do during an awkward encounter with an ex, to surviving a dreaded social media slip-up.

This week, she’s telling us how to survive when you don’t get the job you were gunning for.

The job hunt is a difficult and tiring process so when you don’t get that one role you were really gunning for, it can actually be quite heartbreaking.

But first and foremost try not to despair because not getting the job you wanted can also be a blessing in disguise. It HAS to be, right?!

Any normal person in this world has been rejected from more than one job in their lifetime. It helps mould you into the person you are!

Try and think of the rejection as a positive thing. It’s how you learn.

Here are my tips to help you hold your head up high when you don’t score that job you so desperately wanted.

Stay confident

Not getting the job you wanted can be severely damaging to your confidence, especially if you were really counting on it.

The best thing to do is not torture yourself by dwelling on it. Remind yourself of the bigger picture.

Try thinking objectively about the situation. Use the blow to remind yourself of your core strengths and address any points you think you might need some work on for your next interview.

Learn a lesson

It’s true what I said earlier about learning from your own experiences.

But if you actually think that you put your best foot forward in that interview – demonstrated your strengths, communicated in an engaging way and displayed all your expertise – perhaps that particular company just wasn’t the one for you.

Sometimes, even if you ask, feedback is not given so it makes it really difficult to pinpoint why their decision was “no”.

Instead keep your mind focussed on other opportunities and continue to present yourself the best you can.

Be selective

Narrow your search. Make sure you fit the criteria that the company is asking for.

But also don’t be afraid to turn down an offer should you be headhunted by an organisation of recruiting firm.

Get a LinkedIn profile. These things are GENIUS for job-hunting. No joke, the ease of making connections sitting at home tucked up in bed is beyond amazing. You can even apply for jobs through the site!

Address the issue

Whatever the reason for the rejection from one company can, in turn, be improved as a reason for acceptance at another.

I read that the most common reason for being turned down from a job is because of a lack of technical knowledge. It might be a case of going back and reviewing your answers for technical questions in more detail.

Another common reason for rejection is interview style. For me personally, I was over confident and thought that I was doing that company a favour by being there. My God, Princess Pollard, please get back in your box. Luckily, I did recognise my place early on!

The world doesn’t owe you anything

Don’t for one second think that the world owes you. Well, I had to say it!

I’ve definitely thought this at some point. Hell, I’ve probably even said it more than once.

Young kids today and even people my age think they’re owed the best job in the world, right out of school. But when it comes down to it they’re not willing to work hard for it.

I hate to break to you all but that’s not how it goes.

Yes, I believe in working “smart” and not “hard” but in order to be able to do that you actually do have to work hard first to then be able to work smart second.

Do you think Bill Gates just sat around waiting for his empire to be handed to him on a platter? I think not!

Take those blows with grace, use them as a positive learning tool to build yourself back up and keep on going. You got this!

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