Getting rejected

The 'no' that
teaches you nothing.

Rejections — especially the polite template kind — feel like a verdict on you. They are not. They are data about a process you can adjust, round by round.

Sound familiar?

What is usually going wrong

Every rejection reads the same

"We have decided to move forward with other candidates" tells you nothing — so you change nothing, and the next application repeats the result.

You reach final rounds, then lose

Getting to the end means your CV works. Final-round losses are usually about interview answers, not documents — a different fix entirely.

You have stopped counting

When rejections blur together you lose the pattern. Which stage do you actually fail at — screening, first call, or final round?

The fixes

What actually moves the needle

  1. 1

    Ask for feedback the right way

    Reply to the rejection within 48 hours: thank them, then ask one specific question — "Was there a skill or experience gap that decided it?" Specific questions get real answers; "any feedback?" gets none.

  2. 2

    Fix the stage you actually fail

    Screening rejections mean CV and keywords. First-call rejections mean your story. Final-round rejections mean interview craft. Diagnose the stage before changing anything.

  3. 3

    Rehearse answers out loud

    Interview answers that exist only in your head fall apart under pressure. Practice against the real questions asked for your role until the structure is automatic.

Practice real interview questions

Generate the questions actually asked for your role and seniority, with a structure for strong answers — free, no sign-up needed.

Get the fixes by email

A short series with the specific changes for your situation, the templates to copy, and nothing else.

We store your address in the EU, use it only for these emails, and delete it on request.

Questions

Straight answers

Is it okay to reply to a rejection email?

Yes — a short, gracious reply asking one specific question is normal and often answered. It also keeps the door open: recruiters remember candidates who handled a no well when the next role opens.

How many rejections are normal before an offer?

Searches of 20–50 applications are common, and most end in silence or rejection. What matters is the trend: if you never pass screening, fix the CV; if you always reach interviews, fix the interview.

Should I reapply to a company that rejected me?

Yes, after six months or for a different role. Applicant tracking systems note previous applications, but a materially improved CV for a new opening is read fresh.