Best Way to Kindly Respond to a Job Rejection Email (with Example)

Receiving a job rejection email is never easy, no matter how many times it happens. Your instinct might be to read it with half-closed eyes and then avoid it altogether.

However, knowing how to respond to a job rejection email is crucial for your professional growth.

Facing your fears and crafting a thoughtful response is a valuable skill. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to respond to a job rejection email graciously and provide insightful tips to help you do it effectively.

Plus, we’ll include an example of exactly what to say when writing your response to a job rejection email. This way, you can turn a disappointing moment into an opportunity for future connections and learning!

Should you respond to a job rejection email?

You should always consider how to respond to a job rejection email, even though it’s not required.

Crafting a thoughtful response to a job rejection email helps you maintain a positive relationship with the company, keeping the door open for future opportunities.

Additionally, knowing how to respond to a job rejection email gives you the chance to request valuable feedback that you can leverage for other job applications.

This proactive approach not only enhances your professional reputation but also aids your career growth.

Why is it important to respond to a job rejection email?

Leave the Door Open

Leave the door open for other opportunities at the company. 

Just because you weren't the right fit for this role, you may be a good fit for another role at the company. Leave a positive, lasting impression on your interviewer so they keep you in mind for future opportunities

Receive Valuable Feedback

Receive valuable feedback to help you in future interviews. Learn exactly why you didn't get the role so you can improve for the next one.

What to include in your job rejection email

Thank your interviewers

Showcase your gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the company.

Thank the person for their time and if there were multiple people involved, make reference to them too.

You can also reference a specific moment during the interview process that was impactful to you, but you don’t need to go into a lot of detail.

Express disappointment

Let them know that you really wanted to work for them and be honest that you're upset it didn't work out.

This part is important because it shows you were genuinely interested in the role, but you still want to keep it brief.

Show continued interest

If you are still interested in working for the company, either in a different role or in that same role, include that in your response to the job rejection email.

While that may seem implied or obvious, being upfront about your continued interest may help remind the hiring manager or recruiter to keep you top-of-mind for future opportunities.

Let them know you would like to be considered for any future roles that may be available.

Ask for feedback

This is the most important part of responding to a job rejection email and also the scariest.

Politely ask for their feedback to help you improve for future interviews.

There is no risk in asking because the worst that can happen is that they don't respond. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose so shoot your shot!

Template to graciously respond to a job rejection email

Hi [hiring manager name], 

Thank you for updating me on your hiring decision. While I wish the outcome were different, I appreciate the opportunity to interview with your team, learn more about the position, and understand what success looks like at [company name]. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about your organization and would love to be considered for any future job openings that may become available.

If you have a moment to spare, I would be interested to hear any feedback you have regarding my application and interview. Any details you can provide would be helpful to my job search.

Thank you again for your time and consideration. I wish you and your team the best moving forward!

Best,

Natalie

Conclusion

Asking for feedback can be challenging, but knowing how to respond to a job rejection email can open doors to future job opportunities and provide you with valuable insights on your resume.

Now that you understand how to respond to a job rejection email, you can approach this task with confidence.

Don't let fear hold you back from seizing this opportunity to learn and grow. Remember, responding graciously can leave a positive impression and may lead to new opportunities down the line. You’ve got this!