When you’re not selected for the medical sales jobs of your dreams, it’s easy to feel slighted. It’s just as frustrating when you never hear back once you’ve submitted your application. But, it’s up to you to keep the lines of communication open with employers… even after being rejected for the job.
While 38 percent of the 5,000 job seekers surveyed in the 2017 CareerBuilder Candidate Experience study said they never get a response from employers, employers are waiting for job seekers to make the next first move.
In fact, in the same survey, 52 percent of the 1,505 hiring managers and recruiters surveyed said they wait for candidates to follow up. Without any post-application contact from job seekers, employers assume candidates aren’t interested or have found another job.
In the race for top talent, hiring managers focus on having a talent pool to pull from and look to fill positions quickly, so they want to keep those candidates who stand out, atop their list.
Here’s how to always be gracious in employer contact and help ensure you’re considered for future opportunities:
1) Show Your True Character
Building a positive team culture depends on team members who get along. The foundation of this is finding and building upon a shared interest. Even if you’re passed over for the job, there’s still a chance to show how you fit into the company culture.
For instance, if you discover that you share a goal or value of the company, a handwritten thank you note is the time to remind them of this connection. This demonstrates your active listening skills, and also shows that you care about the specific organization, instead of just landing a job.
In fact, you should send a unique note to every person with whom you interviewed. This shows respect and interest in the interviewers as people. Also, due to the fact that handwritten notes these days are rare, your kind gesture will be remembered.
2) Demonstrate Your Passion and Interest
Employers seek team members who are passionate about the industry and, specifically, their workplace.
Ideally, you created an opportunity during the hiring process to highlight a personal website and portfolio that demonstrates your professional knowledge and interest. In post-rejection communication, you can direct employers to these resources to demonstrate your industry knowledge and skill. This shows your confidence, ability, and that you’re not afraid to sell yourself, which is a positive quality for medical sales jobs.
For instance, if you’re aware that the company has recently purchased new equipment or participated in advanced research, and you’ve created content on the topic, provide a link to it in your follow-up correspondence.
Likewise, if you come across new information specific to a challenge you know the company is working to overcome, sharing relevant links is not only a way to show you’re following industry trends, but also proves that you care about the company’s problems by providing solutions.
You can also reach out to the company via social media by simply engaging in their posts.
3) See the Networking Opportunity
If you’ve networked online or in-person before the interview, you’re in a position to continue to network and continue to develop your relationship with the hiring manager. By maintaining this professional connection, you not only keep in mind of that hiring manager, but are positioning yourself for a reference or referral.
Additionally, if you were able to build rapport with the interview over a shared passion, this presents an opportunity to continue an ongoing discussion on your mutual interest.
4) Be Receptive to All Communication
If you find a company you love, you will benefit from being open to various opportunities where you can help them continue to grow. Don’t let the fact that your heart was set on one role cause you to ignore or overlook another option.
If you impressed the hiring manager, they could be a top referral source to other hiring managers within the org. In fact, of the 700 talent acquisition leaders surveyed in the 2017 LinkedIn U.S./Canada Recruiting Trends, 52 percent said they first look for employee referrals before contacting a candidate.
Actively networking with those you connected with during the interview process — both online and in-person — creates this opportunity. Mark communication on your calendar and make contact every few months, even it’s just an email or phone call to say ‘hello.’ That way, you are continually on the minds of these professionals.
In addition, it’s important to realize that there are also various reasons why a first pick candidate doesn’t work out (bad cultural fit, employee finds another job, etc.). The hiring process takes time and energy. Rather than go back to square one, employers will reach out to ‘second choice’ candidates.
By maintaining a reputation of a friendly and knowledgeable professional and being receptive to options outside your ideal, you’ll position yourself to quickly land rewarding medical sales jobs.