LCS Intern
Rejection can make many cringe, especially law students and recent graduates. Up to this point in your life, you may have been spared from professional rejection, but it is almost guaranteed to occur at some point in your job search. However, with all the negative that rejection brings, there is a significant amount of benefit that can come as well.
In the October 2013 Edition of ABA’s Student Lawyer, Erin Binns outlines how to manage the feelings associated with rejection during a job search and improve as a candidate:
- Express Continued Interest. Be proactive! If you feel that you
had a strong interview and received good feedback, keep this employer on
your radar. Apply again at a future time. Employers have indicated that
they are more likely to hire applicants who are persistent over time
because it shows enthusiasm for the position and organization. When you
reapply, you will have more legal skills and the competition will be
different.
- Trust your instincts. After a strong interview in which you
felt the position was yours but you did not receive an offer, reach out to
the employer. Setting up an informational interview to learn about the
employer’s experiences and perspectives could potentially lead you to a
position in the future.
- Be patient and take action. As law students, we are used to
the fast-paced environment of law school. However, the job search and hiring
process can take weeks, months, or even semesters, before an employer makes
a decision. To overcome this, it is critical to continually express an
ongoing interest when you do not hear back and check in from time to time
with the interviewing parties.
- Don’t internalize your search. If applying for multiple
positions, you cannot let the feelings of frustration or disappointment
that come from rejections poison your other prospects. Try not to view
rejection as a personal failure. Remember, very few attorneys actually
make the hiring decision; understand that while some may not appreciate a
specific personality or experience, it is not a fatal flaw.
- Assess and Learn. It is extremely important that throughout the entire job search process that you take a step back, relax, and take inventory of what has happened so that you can improve. In doing this, contact LCS so that we can assist with your self-evaluation and help prepare for future interview opportunities.
Remember and recognize this simple truth: rejection is most likely a “statement of ‘not now’ rather than ‘not ever.’”
