Taking rejections like a braveheart
100 applications, 80 calls, 10 interviews, 0 callbacks.
It is not easy sending out resumes for a major portion of the day and getting replies to nothing. It is not easy to go to an interview far away from home and get answers like “We will let you know”. For 98% of the time, that line indirectly means — GTFO. It is not easy to make up your mind to attend another interview when the last 99 were disastrous.
I have broken down and cried to myself. People have advised me to keep a brave face and face everything like the queen you are but haven’t a queen broken down when she feels her respect and value is up for an auction.
3 months ago, I was sitting on my parents’ sofa, and holding up my phone, just randomly scrolling through my Instagram feed. Truecaller notified me of a call. I never pick up calls from unknown numbers, unless I have applied for a job anytime near, or probably my gut asks me to. The lady on the other side of the call verified the number they called and then proceeded with telling me the location of the interview.
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach (yeah, it is a feeling).
I readied myself for the interview and proudly told my parents that I would ace this. The next day, I reached the appropriate destination 30 minutes ahead of the schedule.
The man who interviewed me was a former officer of the Indian Army, and he asked me relevant questions. Surprisingly the interview only occurred for 5 minutes. He said and I quote “We will call you back tomorrow.”, and probably the ‘tomorrow’ hasn’t yet arrived.
I was disheartened. It was a job I wished for. I wanted to teach the students there. I knew of the rejection, and I couldn't help but cry on the way home.
I could not show my parents that I was weak with such a small rejection. But, I grieved about it for a long time, and am grieving till now.
That rejection made me who I am today. Even after feeling so dejected, I pick myself up and work till the very end.
It’s not easy, but the journey to today was worth it.