Glossy women’s mags are packed with sage advice and words of wisdom to live by – but, as we found out this week when Glamour’s US arm was mocked relentlessly for their guide to making your man fall in love with you (vomit), the top tips passed on by the glossies aren’t always as wise as they make out.
So we thought we’d take a look at some of the top mags’ advice on dealing with rejection (in a relationship sense, of course – what else are ladies interested in?) and apply it to the more useful arena of job hunting – and found out that, actually, following your head rather than an op-ed might be the best way to further your career. Whether you’re looking to bag that apprenticeship, a weekend job or your dream graduate role, take these top tips on board.
They say: Go Cold Turkey
We say: Always Ask For Feedback
Learning to be unafraid of criticism is one pretty big learning curve. Not only will it help you to improve, it also shows the business you have intuitive, drive and maturity. Becoming arrogant or defensive is pretty unappealing so no matter how angry you feel, never bad mouth the other candidates or the interviewers. If you do, next time you apply your CV is straight in the bin.
They say: Never Speak to Him Again – You Can’t Be Friends with an Ex
We say: Stay in Touch
Once you’ve received your feedback, keep in touch with your interviewers and update them on new skills and projects, showcasing how much you’ve improved since they last saw you. Not only will this help you to stick in their mind when a new vacancy opens up, emailing positive news and progress is so much more appealing than the “hi, I still need a job” email.
They say: You Deserve Better
We say: It’s OK to Lower Your Standards
Em, hate to break your heart but your friends and Carrie Bradshaw might just be lying to you. Chances are you might already be aiming too high if you’re facing an onslaught of rejection week after week. Get your CV to as many places as possible and don’t be snobby about where you work. Instead think about how that job will build up your skills and develop your career. Everyone wants to work for big successful companies but often smaller places, outside of the big cities, will have fewer applicants and can probably offer even better opportunities.
They say: It’s OK to Vent/Leave a Cryptic FB status/Over Share on Twitter in the Name of Closure
We say: Zip it
You know that person that leaves not-so-cryptic statuses on social media which always seem to receive the reply ‘Babe, PM me’ or ‘U OK hun’? Don’t be that person. You need to think about how you come across in high pressure situations and losing it over social media makes you look immature. And don’t think it won’t affect your professional reputation – stuff like this can be easily found by interviewers or future employers. You might be angry, but save that for a rant over coffee with friends. You have to sometimes accept that you didn’t get the job and move on.
They say: You Just Need Time to Learn to Be by Yourself
We say: Apply Around
Get back on it! Apply to everyone! Accept interviews just for the experience! On the job hunt, you can enjoy some rebound action without the regret. Just don’t be sloppy – make lists and goals, for example contact five people this week, send your CV to 10, and try and get four meetings. This may seem a lot, but it will help to keep you motivated, even if you only hear back from one person. Plus, this way you’re not putting all your efforts into one thing, and the rejection won’t hurt (so much).
(When none of the above work I found that nothing helps more than singing Beyoncé’s Why Don’t You Love Me at the top of your lungs, watching the music video and imagining that you look just like Beyoncé when you cry. It might not get you the job of your dreams, but you’ll definitely feel better.)