Should You Apply to a Company That Has Rejected You?

Getting a “thanks, but no thanks” from a company you were hoping to work for is never an easy thing to receive. It can make some jobseekers bitter or indignant, which is understandable. However, there are many instances where you may not have been right for that specific opening, but may end up being a good fit for a position that becomes available down the road. In this case, is it worth it to swallow your pride and apply again? Here are some points to consider:

What was the interview process like?

Did the business make it a point to move through the hiring process as quickly as possible? Were the interviews succinct and worth your time? You want to work for a business that respects potential employees’ time, so analyzing this is important.

How did they let you know you didn’t get the job?

Again, respect is important. The company should have taken the time to call or email you to let you know that they had filled the position. If they let you ask questions or get feedback about why you didn’t get the job, this is even more impressive. However if you found out months later when you saw a friend of a friend posting about her new job (the one you had applied for) on Twitter, you may want to reconsider applying again.

If you decide that you do want to apply to the same company again, here are some tips to avoid any potential awkwardness:

• Tweak your resume: Even if you assume that the hiring manager has heard all about your skills and abilities, you still want to tweak your resume so that it’s applicable to the open position.
• Take any feedback you got to heart before reapplying: If the hiring manager suggested that you learn additional skills or improve in certain areas, make sure that you’ve attended to this before reapplying. If you land another interview, address the improvements that you’ve made head on.
• When you get a rejection, be gracious: It may feel better to write a nasty e-ail back letting them know that they’ve missed out on a great employee, but burning bridges is a risky move, particularly if you’re working in a small industry. Thank the hiring manager for their time, and let them know that you’d love to be considered for open positions in the future. This way, if you do end up reapplying, they have only a positive impression of you.

Reapplying with a company that has previously rejected you is nothing to be ashamed of. In many cases, your rejection had nothing to do with you as a person. It may have come down to the fact that another candidate simply had more or different experience. Therefore, reapplying for another role within that same company can be a smart move. However, it’s important to make sure that you tweak your resume and make any necessary adjustments to make yourself as strong a candidate as possible the second time around.