And the band played on

I received a job rejection last week.  Nothing particularly unusual in that, other than most job applications barely elicit an acknowledgement of receipt let alone a rejection (and almost without fail not an invitation for interview).  For some reason, that one left me particularly upset.

It wasn’t a role I was ideally suited or qualified for, although I do have many of the required skills and experience.  It wasn’t a role I was over qualified nor, as it happens, under qualified for but the location was perfect, the salary verging on generous and the opportunity something to get my teeth into.

And it bothered me.

Another role that I was recommended for by a friend of a friend and, as it happens, would have been an ideal candidate for I won’t be invited to interview for because the location is all wrong (all wrong for just about everyone as it happens), but that one left me shrugging my shoulders rather than experiencing a range of negative emotions.

Why is it that sometimes we can be thus affected for no apparent reason and another time barely seem to notice?

To date I have applied for something in the region of 150 roles. I’ve had six 1st interviews, two 2nd interviews and a handful of rejections. Hopefully I’m improving my odds and, eventually, something has to stick.