Ask a Career Advisor: Should You Respond to a Job Rejection Email?

According to our What Candidates Want: 2023 Job Seeker Report, nearly 100% of job seekers want employers to confirm that they’ve received their application, and 81.8% want to be informed if they’re no longer in the running for the job.

Hearing bad news is better than never hearing back at all, and having closure allows you to move on and focus on other opportunities. But what should you do if you get a “thanks, but no thanks” email? Should you reply, and how do you craft an appropriate job rejection email response?

We asked Lori Cole, Certified Career Coach and Advisor, for her suggestions.

Should You Respond to a Job Rejection Email?

“It may be hard to find the motivation to reply to a job rejection email, but you should take the time to do so,” advised Cole. “Your response can be very short and sweet, especially if you were rejected before progressing to the interview stage. It can’t hurt to reply, and it gives you one last opportunity to make a positive impression in case you plan to apply to other roles at the company in the future.”

It’s also always a good idea to take time to process your emotions before replying. If needed, give yourself a full day or so and write a few drafts.

“Getting a job rejection email can cause all kinds of emotions, and you never want to fire off an immediate, angry response that will burn bridges. If you need to, get those emotions out in a rough draft, and delete it later. You may even find this therapeutic!” added Cole.

How to Respond to a Job Rejection Email

When deciding how to respond to a job rejection email, it’s important to consider how far along you were in the hiring process.

“If you get a job rejection email after applying, especially if it seems like the email could be automated or a template of some kind, simply reply with a short note of gratitude,” said Cole. “If you’re taken out of the running after an interview or several rounds of interviews, your response can be a bit longer and more personalized.”

For example, you could mention that you appreciated the opportunity to learn more about their company and the people you interviewed with, say that you’re still interested in joining their team in the future, and ask that they keep you in mind.

“While you didn’t get the job, you did expand your network and make new connections. Don’t underestimate the value of that! Plus, the person they hired instead of you could end up not working out, and you may find yourself with an offer down the road,” Cole added.

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How to Ask Why You Didn’t Get the Job

If you get a job rejection email, it’s perfectly natural to want to know what went wrong – especially if the hiring manager gives little to no reasoning in their message. Is it ever appropriate to ask why you didn’t get the job?

“Again, consider how far along you progressed before being rejected. If you apply and get an automated rejection email, it’s highly likely because your resume didn’t align with the opening’s requirements,” explained Cole. “In fact, a human may have never read your resume because the company uses an applicant tracking system, and they won’t have much to tell you. However, if you made it to the interview stage, you could consider asking for feedback, but do so respectfully and with the goal of improving for next time – not changing their minds.”

With the advice above for writing a job rejection email response, you can move on quickly and focus on finding your next great opportunity. For more advice on applying for jobs, check out our Resource Center.