Hey, guys – welcome back to TNTH!
In the time I’m writing this, I’m preparing for my first job interview of the year, and the interview that I hope actually gets me the job. I’ve been on my job-hunting process ever since I graduated last Spring, and the journey has not been kind to me. So, I hope that this time’s the charm!
But, I still am very nervous about the possibility of rejection. What if everything goes great, and then I get the email saying I didn’t get the job? What if I’m not really what they are looking for? It’s things like this that make the whole job-hunting and interview process a lot harder. Rejection is extremely hard to handle in any situation: professionally, academically, socially, romantically; you name it. Sometimes, we as people, symbolize rejection as we not being good enough. If you get rejected for a job, you believe you aren’t experienced enough. If you are rejected academically, you believe you aren’t smart enough. If you are rejected in a romantic situation, you believe you aren’t romantically good enough for a person. And honestly, it sucks that we believe these things just say simply getting rejected in life.
It’s taken me a handful of job rejection emails from various companies and universities for me to realize that sometimes, rejection is needed and it’s a part of the process; any process really. Rejection sharpens you up, and it shows you the realities of what it’s like living life as a human being on this earth. Rejection is going to happen, and it’s completely up to you if you allow it to make you or break you. I know for me in the past, I allowed it to break me. Way back when I was applying for grad schools and had my heart set on a film school, the rejection stung, and to this day does when I really think about it. Yes, it’s hard for me to sit down and write scripts or stories because it reminds me of that time in my life, but after two years since that rejection happened, I’ve learned so much more about my passions and drives, and I believe that I am where I need to be in life because, throughout my grad school journey studying a completely new field, I fell in love with it. I wouldn’t have had the experiences I did if I didn’t get that rejection in the first place.
And honestly, that’s the beauty of rejections. That, yes, they are going to initially hurt when you get it, and you will question it, but it does not reflect on who you are. Rejection is simply a “hey, you aren’t the right fit for us”, but there is something and someone out there where you are, and even much more. If you allow rejection to engulf you, you’ll never truly believe in yourself, and you will never truly strive for the things you want out of life. If this one thing doesn’t work in your favor, then try something else somewhere else. Don’t give up on your potential and don’t just stop going after your goals and dreams.
So, whatever rejection you may have recently experienced or anticipating to potentially have (again, this isn’t a pessimistic outlook, it’s a realistic one), don’t let it defeat you. Let it make you even stronger, more determined, and optimistic in your journey of life.
So with that being said, future Liz who is posting this two days after the job interview, I hope you did well, and I hope you remain hopeful no matter what the decision may be, girl!
-Liz. (:
Letters From Liz. 