Turn a loss into a lesson

As a junior developer finding that first job is rough. We hear of this magical place where endless amounts of opportunities come your way. Hearing of these opportunities plants a seed in our mind to reach that sacred land as soon as possible. What we tend to miss is the mental strength you need to endure all the rejection along the way.

Rejections weigh heavy on the mind for some, it brings in doubt and makes you question whether you are good enough. In the tech world, we call that “imposter syndrome”, at a certain point it plagues everyone.

The thing you have to remember with rejection is that it’s only revealing what you need to work on. Something that I make a habit of after each interview is to ask questions. I find that asking questions has made me better after every interview. An example of some of the questions I ask are as follows.

•How was my communication?
•How could I have communicated better?
•What do I need to improve on?
•What documentation do you recommend for me to read?

Asking these questions helps give you a painting of where you are and where you need to be, use it as a roadmap. Eliminate some things you’re already good at and focus on the things you’re still figuring out. This may sound simple but sometimes you don’t realize what you need to work on until you’re put to the test.

A rejection is not a permanent stamp saying you’re not good enough, it’s more of a “hey you’re on the right track, just work on this a little bit more and you’ve got it”.

Learn to make rejection into a happy moment. I understand somebody telling you “no” feels horrible, and you take it personally but your skills aren’t what they are looking for at the moment. That is fine, this is when you ask those questions to figure out what you can do to be better, then you create a silver lining and that’s what you need to pay attention to.

As you accumulate rejection after rejection after rejection, you must continue to create that silver lining and give yourself more roadmaps for your fundamentals and skills. All the different tips and advice you receive along the way will make you become sharper and more prepared, boosting your confidence.

Landing the first job is not a race, it’s a marathon, and as you continue to run you’re only getting stronger. Stay strong, understand your goals and never give up.