When the Dream Job Slips Away: How to Pick Yourself Back Up

Six months. Forty interviews.The hardest rejection is the one that comes after hope.

One of my final ones was with a top FAANG company for a senior sales leadership role in Indonesia. By the fourth interview, I felt confident - maybe even certain - that this was it. The conversations were strong, the fit seemed perfect, and I could already picture myself stepping into that office, leading that team, building that next chapter of my career.

And then… I didn’t get it.  That rejection hit differently. It wasn’t just about losing the job - it was about losing the job I thought I already had. I had allowed myself to imagine the future too vividly, and when it disappeared, the silence felt deafening.

For a while, I stood still. And the longer I stayed still, the heavier that rejection felt.

What helped me get back up was motion - even small steps forward. Reaching out to new contacts. Preparing for the next conversation. I actually advise my clients to always keep at least 6-7 conversation open at any time so if a priority one falls out you other ones you can focus on. It doesn’t erase the disappointment, but it prevents it from consuming you.

The second shift was internal: not tying my identity to the outcome. That role would have been incredible, but a “no” from one company doesn’t mean a “no” to who I am. Our worth isn’t stamped by a hiring manager. It’s defined by the persistence we show in continuing to move forward, even when the outcome isn’t what we wanted.

Finally, I learned to zoom out. At the time, the rejection felt monumental - the biggest setback of my search. But now, with perspective, I see it as just one chapter in a much larger story. Looking back, if I had taken that job, it might have taken me longer to get to my true north, helping people find that next best step for their career.

Sometimes the door that closes was never really yours to begin with - it just clears space for the right one to open.

I’d love to hear from you - how have you handled rejection in your career, and what helped you move forward?