Natty Chatter

In this climate of economic downturn, it's very likely that many folks may find themselves applying for new positions for various reasons. Whether its within their own companies or to external organizations in the professional fields or even in social groupings, it is inevitable that rejection occurs.

Now in nearly all cases, rejection is painful because at the bottom line in a rejection is that you don't fit the position (whether professional or social) based on the qualification criteria that was used to determine your compatibility. Moreover, there are wounds that a rejection can cause on your psyche as you mull over the events leading up to rejection and the rejection itself.

At some point, there are a numerous set of clearly defined responses that we reach for immediately. For some it's anger at either oneself for not doing more or perhaps anger directed at the interviewer for not recognizing your compatibility. For others, it may be confusion as why they were found lacking in relation to the position being sought. And yet others will try to brush off the rejection by not responding back at all, thinking that a "tough cold shoulder" approach is best.

However, these approaches seem to "burn bridges" as it were to the position you were rejected for. Now granted, it might be sweet vengeance to get back at the people who hurt you by their rejection, but it also would probably seal their future consideration of you in the future. After all, if you are as qualified as you claim to be, then these people may wish to reconsider their choice after sometime spent with their initial choice.

Thus, a gracious response, a response thanking these interviewers for their time and consideration of you for that position would leave a positive impact in the event that their choice fails to achieve their expectations.

In the professional world, it is common to see companies select one candidate or vendor over another only to switch later down the road as their original selection was a poor choice. And typically the problem lies in the selection criteria that the company used in the first place. For instance, saving money by the selection of a cheaper vendor may turn out to be a poor choice if said vendor suffers from horrible quality or delivery commitments.

Conversely, in social circles, a rejection from a lady or a man could be a horrible mistake as their selection criteria may be the wrong set of qualities that they were attempting to fill. Or alternatively, they could have overlooked certain qualities of you (the rejected person) which are only illuminated by the person they originally selected. Therefore, by taking a gracious exit, that positive uplifting response may very well lead to a return call once their candidate fails to impress.

-C