How to Respond to a Job Rejection Email

Unfortunately, not all news is good news.

During your career, there will be times you must face and deal with disappointment, and that disappointment can come in the form of a job rejection email for a position you were really excited about.

But even when disappointed, you must learn to respond to this rejection with professionalism.

Why Respond to a Job Rejection Email

Before discussing how to respond to a job rejection email, it is important to understand why you should respond at all.  While you may prefer to simply ignore a rejection email, you could stand to benefit from responding appropriately.

And why is that?

Because it demonstrates your professionalism and sets a foundation for a continued relationship, whether it be through referrals or future job opportunities.

How to Respond to a Job Rejection Email

Now that you better understand why you should respond to a job rejection email, you need to better understand how to reply to a rejection email.

Here are five useful tips to consider when drafting a job rejection email response.

1. Be professional and positive

First off, without getting into the specifics, your overall job rejection email response should be positive and professional. You do not want to burn any bridges by responding harshly.

The remaining steps will help you maintain a positive impression, but always keep in mind that whatever response you type, it should come across as positive, respectful, and polite.

2. Thank your interviewer

Any response to a rejection email should start with a Thank You. You do not need to overthink this. Just thank the interviewer for their time and meeting with you. Also, thank them for letting you know of their decision.

3. Express disappointment

It is alright to be disappointed. And it is equally permissible to express that disappointment in a responsive email. After all, it would be weird if you were happy that you did not get the job you applied for.

Do not be angry or rude, simply let the person reaching out know you are disappointed not to have been chosen for the position but express that you understand that companies must make tough decisions when hiring. This approach will communicate your ongoing interest, which leads to the next point.

4. Show continued interest

If this is a company you would still love to work for, make sure to express your continued interest in working there in any rejection email response. Many managers will simply assume you have applied to many other places or have already chosen another position elsewhere.

Use your email response as an opportunity to express your ongoing interest and desire to be considered for future positions. Suggest if it would be appropriate if you reached out every so often concerning other potential openings.

5. Ask for feedback

A rejection email presents a great opportunity to learn your interviewing weaknesses and gain insights into why you were not chosen. Do not hesitate to ask for feedback, which will help you improve your interviewing skills.

If you are wondering how to ask for feedback after job rejection, explain that you are working to be more effective in your job hunt technique and marketability, and do not be afraid to ask for specific moments or experiences that may have lessened their enthusiasm for you as a candidate.

How to Respond to Job Rejection Email Examples

Are you looking for some examples of how to respond to a rejection email? Here are a few, short examples:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

Thank you for letting me know of your decision.

I am certainly disappointed not to start working with [company name], but if possible, I would like to speak to you and learn more about what I may have said or what in my qualifications may have led you to choose another candidate.

I hope that you will be open to having me reach out periodically concerning other potential openings with [company name].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

OR

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],

Thank you for letting me know about your hiring decision. I am grateful for the time you took throughout our interviews to allow me to learn more about your company's mission and values.

While I'm disappointed that I won't be joining your team, it was a pleasure to meet you and your team.  

Even though my experience isn't quite what you're looking for, I am still interested in your company. If another role with a better fit opens up, don’t hesitate to contact me by phone or email.   

If you have any spare time, I would be interested to hear any feedback you have regarding my application and interview. Your valuable insight would be most helpful during my job search.

I look forward to connecting again in the future.

Kind regards,

[Your Name]

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