After the job interview

At the interview, ask when you will hear about the outcome. If you don’t hear within a reasonable time, follow up by telephone or email. It's useful to jot down some notes straight after the interview: what did you think you did well? What do you wish you had done differently? These can help you improve if you have more interviews coming up.

If they say ‘no’

Getting a polite ‘no thanks’ from an employer is something that most people go through at some time. No-one likes being rejected, but there are ways of dealing with it positively.

First and foremost, don’t confuse rejection with failure. Finding a job is not like taking an exam – rejection doesn’t mean you’ve messed up.

There may have been a high volume of applicants and many excellent candidates. If you receive one acceptance out of ten applications, you’re doing extremely well. You may have come close to being offered the job, so it may be worth applying for another role there in the future.

Your performance may have been good but some candidates may have presented their case better on the day. When you have recovered from your disappointment reflect on your performance and how you could improve.

Recruiters are human, and they can make mistakes. But it’s possible that they may be right and this wasn’t the best possible fit for you. Thinking this through may help you target future applications.

Try to take what you can from the experience:

• Ask for feedback. If it's vague, ask if they can provide more details to help you strengthen your future applications. Talk it through with a careers adviser.
• Act on feedback if it’s useful, for example gaining more experience or brushing up on skills.
• Try again. Tenacity and focus will pay off in the long run.

If they say ‘yes’

If you have one job offer but are waiting to hear about another job, try to buy yourself some time. Contact the first employer, explain the situation (without naming the second employer) and that you need time before you commit. Remember you could be in breach of contract if you accept a job in writing and then turn it down.

You may know you want the job but want to negotiate a better salary. Most graduate jobs have a standard salary so if you choose to question this, do so with a lot of diplomacy. Make sure what you ask for is reasonable and justified and be prepared to explain why you should be at the upper end of the pay bracket for your job. Think about what you are prepared to accept, and look at the whole package – there may be other benefits on offer.