So, you got the call — you didn’t get the internship you’ve been dreaming of, the job you were counting on or a position you knew you were perfect for. You were banking on this, and not getting it (whatever it is) can be absolutely crushing. It can be tempting to fall apart, and ask yourself…now what?
You’ve been preparing and getting yourself psyched for months — and not getting the position, job or internship can feel like all that preparation was just a waste of time and a waste of effort. Even more crushing is getting through several rounds of interviews and thinking that you were getting closer and closer — only to have it ripped away from you. Moving on from a blow like this can seem insurmountable, and like you’re destined for nothing but disappointment after disappointment.
Wallowing in your tears is 100 percent okay for a day (or two, depending on how important the position was to you). Honestly, doing nothing but stuffing your face with leftover Halloween candy and watching sad movies is pretty therapeutic, and could be exactly what you need after being disappointed.
But, the important thing isn’t to let yourself totally collapse after being dealt a blow like this. My advice is to take a day or two to yourself — and I mean really yourself. Turn off your computer (except for Netflix), treat yourself to a face mask, pour yourself a glass of wine and really relax. Crying is okay, and can help you feel better about the situation once you’re done. Once those two days are over, it’s time to bounce back.
The one upside of being let down is knowing how it feels. You’re smarter, wiser and more prepared for let downs as a result of it — and the downside (one of many, at least) of the adult world is that its filled with letdowns. It feels like, or can seem like, there will always be someone smarter, more prepared or plain old better than you; and this can get really discouraging, really quickly.
The most important thing about a letdown like this is not letting it get to you. Yes, you didn’t get the job you wanted — but there are others out there. Yes, it seems like at every corner there’s someone better than you —but one day there won’t be. Sure, it feels like your life has been filled with rejection — but one day, you’ll get that “yes” phone call; it’s just a matter of time.
Especially in this season of internship and post-grad job applications, it’s even more crucial to not to let that rejection get to you. Keep your head up, collegiettes!