Rejection is never easy, especially when it comes to your career.

But a rejection letter doesn’t have to mean you’ve come to the end of the road with a particular job or company. According to research compiled by StandOut CV, only 2% of candidates that apply for a job will be called for an interview, and employers will typically only call six people for every job vacancy they advertise, so the odds are pretty much stacked against you, no matter how stellar your experience.

So instead of getting bogged down in the why, look at ways you can rebound from your rejection and reinforce all the positive aspects on your resume to bag that job the second time round.

You fluffed your first application

It can be tempting to fire off the same generic CV to multiple job openings in an effort to save time, but not targeting your application, paying particular attention to keywords in the job description or highlighting you have the skills an employer is looking for, is an even bigger waste.

 Most recruiters or hiring managers will be focussing on the finer details and could even be using an applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter applications. If you are guilty of applying for jobs with a one-size-fits-all style resume and aren’t being called for interviews as a result, create bespoke CVs for every job you’re applying or reapplying for.

You’ve upped your skills

Whether you’ve recently completed a professional qualification or have taken up coding in your spare time, if your skillset has been bolstered since the last time you applied for a specific job, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t reapply for the role that’s now more relevant to your experience. It’s important to hone in on this by updating your CV accordingly. A cover letter can also work in your favour here as you can really highlight your accomplishments.

A lot of time has passed

Some companies use software that automatically rejects applications that are resubmitted immediately after a candidate has been turned down, so it makes sense to wait a while before rushing in with a duplicate application. Allowing some time to pass also allows your experience and skill set to grow, meaning your reapplication could be more successful. However, be wary of reapplying for any role that specifically stipulates that previous applicants need not apply.

The hiring manager has changed

Some hiring managers will have very specific criteria around choosing candidates for an interview and if you don’t fit the bill, your application will always be rejected. However, if you know that the hiring manager for a job has changed and the company is re-recruiting for the role you originally had your eye on, you can always try your luck and hope that something on your CV lands differently.

They’ve lifted a hiring freeze

In times of financial or operational flux, bigger companies often implement a hiring freeze until the period of uncertainty or instability has passed meaning good applicants could be discarded automatically. The good news is that once these freezes are over, hiring managers will be eager to reinvigorate their teams and the opportunity to reapply could present itself.

Ready to flex your knowledge and put your skills to the test? The Finextra Job Board is filled with finance and banking roles that are hiring right now, like the three jobs below.

EMEA Personal Banking & Wealth Management FP&A Lead Finance Officer - C15 Director/SVP, FaciliCiti, London

The EMEA Personal Banking & Wealth Management FP&A Lead Finance Officer - C15 Director/SVP role will be required to analyse and review financial performance, especially drivers, trends and the competitive environment to enhance strategic decision-making, resource allocation and performance management. The role covers the entire EMEA region, including products, regions and client segments and requires a high level of business understanding and interaction with various client groups. Find out more here.

Full Stack Developer, PwC, Remote

As a Senior Manager Full Stack Developer, the successful candidate will work as part of a team helping to solve complex business issues from strategy to execution. You’ll also establish the root cause of issues and tackle them, initiate open conversations, move easily between big thinking and managing relevant detail, as well as advising stakeholders on relevant technical issues for their business area. You’ll also have a minimum of seven years’ experience. See the full job spec here.

Business Development Manager, Moody’s Corporation, London

As Business Development Manager you’ll manage a portfolio of investor clients and equip the market with the ESG insight to perform financially and better address their social and environmental impact. You’ll also be tasked with developing an understanding of clients’ activities and their needs to ensure demands are met, while facilitating the use of Moody’s products, ensure customer account retention and develop opportunities for cross-selling. Apply now.

 For many more opportunities in finance and tech, visit the Finextra Job Board today