Sending a thank you letter after a job rejection offers several benefits. Here are three.
- You not only reinforce your interest in the job, but also create positive relationships with the people you met in the interviews.
- Some of the people you met may think of you for future opportunities at the same or other companies.
- Additionally, you will be adding allies to your business network.
Don’t Make it Personal
When companies reject you, you may feel angry and frustrated. You may feel depressed or frightened. A collection of negative feelings is normal when dealing with painful experiences. However, writing a thank letter may help you move past those feelings by taking positives actions.
Gaining Perspective
The best company interviewers are not making a personal decision. Rather they are making a business decision. Their assessment is that your qualifications and successes do not make you the best applicant for a specific opening in their company.
Why Keep the Door Open?
Companies make offers to their leading candidate. However, people turn down job offers. When this happens, companies may turn to the next applicant and make that person an offer. In this case, sending a thank you letter may make you the next applicant that the company considers.
The Mailing List
Send the thank you letter to the hiring manager and to each of the people you met. Again, if you are working with a recruiter, send a blind copy to the recruiter. Recruiters have an interesting role between you and the company. They can help reinforce your interests and your qualifications for the job. Keeping the recruiters informed is important to enabling them to help you.