How to Respond to a Rejection Email (With Sample Reply)

In this guide, we’re going to discuss how to respond to a rejection email for a job. We’ll walk through a sample rejection email to help you craft a good response and ensure all the important elements are there.

You have advanced past a few in-person interviews. You felt like you built a good dynamic with the hiring manager, and you were feeling good about your prospects of getting a job.

However, you have just received an email from the hiring manager informing you of some bad news: you didn’t get the job.

Getting turned down—especially when you’ve invested a lot of time pursuing a job—is difficult. The last thing that may be on your mind is to send a response to the hiring manager. However, you should consider doing so. Thanking the person who interviewed you for their time will prove to be a great investment in the long run. 

Should I Reply to a Rejection Email?

While it’s not required to reply to a job rejection email, you should absolutely do so. It will keep you in good standing with the company, and it is just common courtesy.

The job application process can be quite informal at times. So it may not seem necessary to send a response to a job rejection email. There are, however, a few advantages of taking a few minutes to craft a follow-up email.

First, job opportunities—even unsuccessful ones—are occasions where you can expand your network. While you may not have landed the job, you can still use the job interview process as an opportunity to build your professional network. You can start building connections with people who could be useful to your career further down the line.

In addition, if you send a response to a job rejection email, you’ll make a positive impression on the employer. This might just work in your favor. If the hired applicant declines the position, the hiring manager may bump you up on the list, just on account of your positive attitude.

There is also a chance that you weren’t right for a specific role, which doesn’t mean you weren’t a good prospect. If you send a follow-up to a job rejection email, you can maintain a strong bond with an employer. This may encourage them to reach out if they are hiring for a position that would be a better fit for you. 

So, now you understand that responding to a rejection email is not just an act of common courtesy. It could actually have a positive impact on your career.

How to Respond to a Rejection Email

Job rejection emails do not need to be elaborate. The email you send should simply thank your interviewers for their time, show your continued interest in the company, and ask for feedback.

Here are the main elements you should consider including in your job rejection email response:

A Thank-You Note to the Interviewers

If you made it to a second interview or a final interview, the employer has invested a lot of time in considering you.

Stary by thanking the company for the time they have spent considering you as an applicant, even if you didn’t get the job.

Specifically, you should thank the hiring manager for considering you. Also, mention that you were grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the company and its culture.

Your thank-you note only needs to be a few sentences—you don’t want to go overboard and mention too many details!

Show Your Interest in Future Opportunities

You may not have gotten this job, but that doesn’t mean that your relationship with the company is over.

In your email, you should make sure that you mention how disappointed you are to hear that you were not selected for the job. This will ensure the employer is aware that you were interested in working for the company.

Then, you may want to mention that you are still interested in working for the company, if other positions open up in the future. This will make the interviewer aware that you are still available for professional engagement and have not taken a job elsewhere.

Ask for Comments and Feedback

“I thought I was a great fit. I did a great job answering that question about my strengths and weaknesses. Why didn’t I get the job?”. This may be a sentiment echoing in your mind right now.

If you want to know more about why you didn’t land the job, ask the hiring manager in your rejection email.

You should do so respectfully, and be mindful of the fact that the hiring manager is busy and may have many people to interview. If you ask clearly and simply, you might get some useful feedback on why you weren’t the best candidate for the job.

Sample Response to Rejection Email 

Now you understand what you need to include in your rejection email. But there is still one step left—actually writing the letter. Here’s a template to help you out:

Dear [Name],

Thank you for informing me of your hiring decision.

While I am disappointed I was not selected for the position, I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you and learn about your company.

I am excited to keep following your work. And I would appreciate it if you could keep me in mind for future positions at your organization. If you have the time, I would also be interested in hearing any feedback you have about my interview. This would be valuable as I continue on my job search.

Again, thank you for your time and for considering me for the position. I wish you and [Company] the best of luck.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

In this email, the candidate has covered all the core elements of a response to job rejection. First, the candidate thanked the interviewer. Second, the candidate asked if they can be kept in mind for future positions. Finally, the candidate has sought feedback. This is optional, but it’s a good way to learn more about why you were not chosen for a job.

The follow-up email should be no more than a few sentences long to maximize the chances of the hiring manager reading your email.

Conclusion

Writing a job rejection response email is a good way to maintain a positive relationship with a company.

The follow-up email is an opportunity to show that you appreciate them considering you for the job and to seek potential feedback.

By following the tips in this article, you should have no trouble writing a professional and gracious response to a job rejection email.