Handling Rejection In Negotiations

You’ve heard of a post-interview thank you note. Now get ready for the post-rejection thank you note! I see WAY too many job seekers viewing rejection as the end of the line. They cut ties with everyone at the company. These are people you spent 30-60+ minutes connecting with! They know your value, they know what you offer. They can be some of the best leads for new roles if you let them. So instead of letting rejection be the end of the line… Send a Post-Rejection Thank You note! Here's how to write one in 4 parts: 1. Thank them for taking the time to consider you 2. Wish them a ton of success with the hire they made 3. Mentioned specific things that you loved about the company, team, and speaking with them! 4. Ask if it'd be ok for you to stay in touch For example: "Hi Jamie, Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me last week! I heard the team made a hire, I'm super excited for you all and I'm wishing you a ton of success with [Initiative]. I really enjoyed interviewing at [Company], and I especially enjoyed our chat about the future of blockchain in the health tech space. If you're up for it, I'd love to stay in touch! Either way, have an awesome rest of the week." Now set a calendar invite to follow up with these people once / month. Aim to add value with your touch points. I promise they'll lead you to more opportunities.

How I mastered negotiation before I knew what it was.   Growing up in a rough neighborhood taught me something school never did:   "How to handle conflict."   And not with my fists, but with words.   One of the most powerful tools I learned on my own was “𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴” emotions.   It’s a simple but effective strategy.    By naming the other person’s emotions, you can de-escalate tension and open the door to real communication.   Here’s how it worked for me:   𝟭. 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀:   When fights were about to break out, I’d say, “It seems like this is about territory, not us.”    Often, that was enough to shift the focus and avoid violence.    𝟮. 𝗔𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲:   During family arguments, I’d say, “It looks like you’re stressed about money, not what I did.”    That turned heated moments into calmer discussions.   𝟯. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆:   We often felt targeted by police.    Instead of reacting, I’d label their concerns: “It seems like you’re worried about safety.”    That made them see me as cooperative, not a threat.   As I got older, I realized these skills weren’t just survival tactics.    They were 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀.   Here’s why 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 works:    - It helps build trust and opens up dialogue. - It shows you understand the other person’s feelings.   - It shifts the conversation from confrontation to collaboration.   Good labels typically take the form of specific phrases that avoid using first-person pronouns.     Start your sentences with phrases like:     - “It seems like…”   - “It looks like…”   - “You look like…”   For instance:   - "It seems like you're feeling overwhelmed with the current situation."   - "It looks like you're passionate about ensuring quality in the project."   - "You look like you're concerned about how this change will impact your team."   Avoid first-person pronouns in phrases such as:   - "What I'm hearing..." or  - "I think..."    Why? Using "I":   - Keeps focus on them not you - Makes them feel undervalued - Shows you don't have genuine interest in what they have to say.   By mastering the art of labelling, negotiators can create a more empathetic, open, and productive negotiation environment.    Not sure how to master this? DM me and let's have a chat. ----------------------------- Hi, I’m Scott Harrison and I help executive and leaders master negotiation & communication in high-pressure, high-stakes situations.  - ICF Coach and EQ-i Practitioner - 24 yrs | 19 countries | 150+ clients   - Negotiation | Conflict resolution | Closing deals 📩 DM me or book a discovery call (link in the Featured section)

Her interview didn’t go well. But what she did next changed everything. Most candidates walk out of a failed interview feeling defeated. One of my students felt the same until she decided to do something 99% of candidates never try. She emailed the interviewer the next day. Not to follow up for a job. But to ask this simple question: “If you could give me one piece of honest feedback to help me grow, what would it be?” That message changed everything. Not only did she receive detailed feedback on where she stumbled, but they also told her: “You weren’t too far off. If you work on this one area, we’d be happy to talk again.” That company didn’t ghost her. They invited her back after 4 weeks. This time she cracked it. So what was different? Most candidates think rejection means “I wasn’t good enough.” But sometimes it just means, “You’re close, but not yet.” so… → Treat rejections as feedback. → Reach out instead of sitting in silence. → Get better instead of bitter. So the next time it doesn’t go your way, don’t just close the tab and move on. Ask. Learn. Improve. You might just turn that “No” into a “Not yet.” #Interviewtips #Interviewcoach #jobsearch

I once interviewed a candidate for a role. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it that time. When I informed her, the candidate replied: "Thank you for letting me know. I truly appreciate your time. I would like to join you in future openings" Hang up the phone with a Smile. -No complaints. -No frustration. -Just gratitude. Two months later, another role opened up for another opportunity. I remembered this candidate immediately. We called her again. This time, she got selected. Why? Because her professionalism during rejection stayed in my mind. Lessons I learnt as a leader: -Grace in failure creates future opportunities. -Attitude matters as much as skills. -Politeness costs nothing but returns everything. Dear Jobseekers, Even if you got rejected, reply with dignity. Even if you feel disappointed, be respectful. Even if you don’t get the role, leave a good impression. Because sometimes, rejection is just a delayed selection. #HR #Hiring #Leadership #CareerGrowth

“I Don’t Think We Can Afford You.” That’s what the CEO said after I delivered a pitch to train their leadership team. I smiled and said, “Fair. But can I ask—what’s the cost of having untrained leaders make one wrong decision?” Pause. The energy shifted. I didn’t argue. I asked. I didn’t push. I anchored. Negotiation isn’t about winning. It’s about understanding leverage, timing, and psychology. Here’s what worked in that moment: 1. Anchoring: I reframed the cost—not of hiring me, but of not hiring me. 2. Scarcity: I gently mentioned my limited slots (truthfully)—people pay more for what’s rare. 3. Mirroring: I used their language and pace to build rapport. 4. Reciprocity: I offered a one-time bonus masterclass if they signed that week—value first. 5. Loss Aversion: Humans are wired to avoid loss more than they are to chase gain. I let that psychology speak for me. We closed. Full fee. No discount. 6-month retainer. Negotiation is not about being louder. It’s about being smarter, calmer, and more psychologically aware. Train your voice. Train your presence. And most importantly—train your mind. #NegotiationSkills #ExecutivePresence #SoftSkills #CommunicationCoach #Psychology #LeadershipDevelopment #CorporateTraining #LinkedInInfluencer

The worst thing you can do after receiving a rejection is to abandon the relationship you’ve built with the recruiter or hiring manager. If you’re tempted to walk away because of a “no,” try looking at it from a different angle. You never know what other opportunities could come your way. When I was rejected from Apple in the semi-final round, I reached back out to the recruiter, highlighted two other roles I was qualified for, and asked if she could introduce me to the respective hiring teams. Because of how I performed throughout the process and the genuine connection I developed with her, she sent two introductory emails on my behalf. Although I ultimately didn’t land those positions, I gained new contacts and received positive feedback on my file. Here’s my three-step process after a rejection: 1. Follow Up 2. Research other roles you qualify for 3. Send your findings to the recruiter/hiring manager and keep the conversation going You never know what might happen: recruiters and hiring managers could move to other companies where you might be a perfect fit. Or you might discover another role that leads to a “yes.” Don’t underestimate the power of maintaining relationships and following up. #StephSynergy

Dear Hiring Managers: Reject With Respect When you REJECT a Candidate please don't hurt their chances of getting another JOB: 1. Tell the RECRUITER all the strong points you saw in the candidate. 2. Don't leave candidates hanging. Get back to them quickly. 3. Give them constructive feedback so they can improve to land the job they want. 4. If you know of another company looking for such a candidate, why not help both sides. Job searching can be emotionally draining. Put yourself in the candidate's shoes. We all at one point were jobseekers and it doesn't take much, for anyone of us to be a jobseeker again. A little empathy and respect goes a long way. Let's make the recruiting process more humane. I've seen firsthand how quality rejection feedback can transform careers. One candidate I worked with took specific interview feedback, addressed those gaps, and landed a better role within 30 days. Meanwhile, ghosting candidates or giving vague rejections ("not a culture fit") doesn't just hurt them—it damages your employer brand. Research shows 72% of candidates share negative interview experiences online. The companies with the strongest talent pipelines are often those who treat rejected candidates with the most respect. Many eventually return as stronger candidates or refer others to roles. Remember: today's rejected candidate could be tomorrow's perfect match, customer, or industry partner. How are you ensuring rejected candidates leave your process feeling respected? ------------------------------------------------- Follow me Dan Murray🧠 for more on habits and leadership. ♻️ Repost this if you think it can help someone in your network! 🖐️ P.S Join my newsletter The Science Of Success where I break down stories and studies of success to teach you how to turn it from probability to predictability here: https://lnkd.in/ecuRJtrr

The Rejection Email That Changed My (and the candidate’s) Career I just helped a candidate secure a job offer after he'd been rejected by the same company just three months earlier. How? The candidate did something most job seekers never consider. When he received the initial rejection, instead of quietly moving on, he sent a thoughtful response thanking the hiring manager for the opportunity and asking for one specific piece of feedback. That email sparked a conversation which eventually led to him being considered for a different role. This story highlights something I've observed repeatedly in my years as a headhunter: your response to rejection can be as important as your application. Here's what successful candidates do differently: 1. They view rejections as pauses, not stops. The hiring world is fluid—budgets change, requirements shift, and new positions open up. Maintaining positive connections keeps you in the loop. 2. They ask for targeted feedback. Don't request general improvement areas. Ask: "Could you share one skill I could develop that would make me a stronger candidate for similar roles?" This is specific and actionable. 3. They show growth between applications. If you reapply, highlight what you've learned or improved since your last application. This demonstrates commitment and adaptability. 4. They stay visible professionally. Comment thoughtfully on the hiring manager's LinkedIn posts or share relevant industry articles. This keeps you on their radar without being pushy. 5. They treat recruiters as long-term connections. A good recruiter remembers candidates who communicate professionally, even when things don't work out. We often come back to people who left positive impressions. I've seen too many qualified candidates vanish after a rejection, missing future opportunities. The job search isn't just about finding vacancies—it's about building relationships that last beyond a single application. #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Recruitment

Rejection doesn’t turn into redirection overnight… it hurts first. It breaks you. It makes you feel like the world has ended. Many rejections are major, and many are minor, but every rejection is not easy. Here’s the real formula: Rejection → Pause → Reflection → Redirection. Everyone loves to say rejection is redirection, but let’s be honest: it doesn’t work like that. In real life, when rejection hits, it isn’t some instant golden detour. It’s a punch in the gut. You don’t suddenly feel motivated or clear. You feel sad. You feel stuck. You feel like something slipped out of your hands. And that’s okay, because emotions are not optional. You can’t tell yourself to skip sadness any more than you can skip happiness when something good happens. The truth is, rejection needs space before it becomes redirection. First comes the pause, where you allow yourself to breathe. Then comes reflection, where you look at what happened, what you could do differently, and what is beyond your control. Only then comes redirection, where you move with clarity instead of pressure. Here’s the simple formula I built for myself over the years whenever rejection showed up: ⏺️ Pause → Allow yourself to feel it. Cry if you need to. Don’t rush through it. *️⃣ Reflect → Look at what actually happened. Even if it wasn’t your fault, there’s always something to learn. 🔀 Redirect → I do this in two ways: 1. Strengthen myself emotionally, so that I can process rejection better next time. 2. Gift myself a better version of me by learning something new or trying something different. One study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who allow themselves to process difficult emotions actually recover faster and make better long-term decisions than those who suppress them (source: American Psychological Association). So, the next time rejection knocks at your door, don’t force yourself to immediately find the silver lining. P. S. Give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and then redirect, because that is how resilience is truly built. #rejection #emotions #leadership

𝙂𝙤𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙅𝙤𝙗? 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 ‘𝙉𝙤’ 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨! Ever got a job rejection email that just made you slump in your chair? But what if I told you that each rejection slip is actually a secret doorway to your next big opportunity? Let me show you how turning rejections into opportunities can truly elevate your career. ✅ Dig Deeper: Ask Why Got a ‘no’? Ask for feedback. Seriously, do it. Understanding why you were passed over can reveal what skills or experiences you need to brush up on. ✅ Stay Connected Always reply to a rejection by thanking them for the opportunity and expressing your interest to stay in touch. This keeps you in their good books and guess what? About 30% of people who do this end up getting referred for another job. ✅ Check-in Periodically Don’t just stop with a ‘thank you’ note. Drop a friendly email every few months. Share an article, congratulate them on a new project, or just say hi. Keeping the connection alive can magically turn a past ‘no’ into a future ‘yes’. ✅ Offer Value, Even When Not Asked Whenever you check in, share something useful. Maybe a great article you read or a trend analysis that could benefit them. This shows you’re not just interested in a job but also in providing value, making you memorable. Rejections sting, but they’re not the end of the road. Often, they just direct you to something better. Got a rejection-to-success story? I’d love to hear it! #CareerAdvice #JobSearchTips #Networking #LinkedInSuccess