Rising After the Fall : Dealing with Rejections in Today’s Job Market

It was reported earlier this year that nearly 48% of Indian graduates remain unemployed six months after completing their degrees, according to a TeamLease report. Globally, too, the job market is in flux - LinkedIn’s 2025 Workforce Report highlighted that while AI-related jobs have grown by 21%, traditional entry-level roles in sectors like marketing, finance, and operations have declined by double digits. The contrast paints a sobering reality: the number of fresh graduates and young professionals seeking work is higher than ever, yet the available opportunities are increasingly selective.

In this uncertain landscape, rejection has become more common than acceptance. Yet, how individuals and organisations interpret these rejections tells a larger story about the changing nature of work itself.

Why Rejections Are Rising - And What They Reveal

The reason behind this surge in job rejections is not simply a lack of talent - it’s a mismatch between what companies need and what graduates offer.

Globally, companies are moving towards skill-based hiring, valuing adaptability, problem-solving, and tech proficiency over traditional degrees. Microsoft’s “Skills for Jobs” report noted that over 60% of employers now prefer candidates with demonstrable skills over formal qualifications. In India, this shift is evident in the rise of platforms like TCS iON and Coursera, which are helping freshers build niche technical skills to stay employable.

But this change also means that traditional preparation - memorising theory, chasing marks, or following cookie-cutter career advice - is losing relevance. As companies automate routine roles and expect candidates to bring multidisciplinary expertise, rejections have become a filtering mechanism, highlighting the gap between old learning systems and modern workplace needs.

When Organisations Say “No”

For employers, rejections are often about more than choosing one candidate over another - they’re about aligning with culture, long-term vision, and adaptability.

Consider Google’s decision earlier this year to reduce entry-level hiring in non-technical roles globally, including in India. While it disappointed thousands of young applicants, the move reflected a larger trend: companies now prefer hiring fewer but more versatile employees who can adapt to changing project requirements.

Similarly, in the Indian startup ecosystem, layoffs and hiring freezes have pushed many firms to prioritise candidates with hybrid skills - someone who understands finance but can also handle data analysis, or a marketing associate who can work with AI tools. The result? Freshers are being asked to bring more than just enthusiasm - they’re being asked to bring relevance.

Turning “No” Into Direction

For young professionals, learning to handle rejection is as essential as learning to interview. A rejection isn’t the end of a path - it’s a redirection.

A global example of this comes from Airbnb’s co-founder Brian Chesky, who was rejected by several investors before building one of the world’s most successful startups.

These stories remind us that rejections often precede reinvention. They force individuals to reassess their strengths, acquire new skills, and sometimes even change industries. The rise of freelancing, remote consulting, and creator-based work is evidence of young professionals refusing to stay idle after rejection - they’re creating their own paths.

Learning Through Rejection

The job market’s volatility demands a new mindset: one where continuous learning replaces traditional job security. Instead of waiting for companies to train them, young jobseekers today are taking charge of their upskilling journeys.

From AI certifications to creative side projects, there’s a visible trend of “portfolio building” - where candidates showcase not just what they studied, but what they can actually do. A rejected fresher from a campus drive might spend the next few months building a data dashboard on Power BI, editing short-form videos, or running a small digital campaign - all practical experiences that matter more than a resume line.

In that sense, rejections are transforming from emotional setbacks into strategic opportunities.

A Future Built on Resilience

As organisations evolve, the relationship between hiring and rejection will become less about judgment and more about readiness. The future of work belongs to those who can learn, unlearn, and re-learn - because job roles will keep changing faster than degrees can keep up.

For freshers entering this dynamic world, every rejection is not a closed door but a quiet signal: to adapt, to explore, to grow. The lesson is not to avoid failure, but to understand what it teaches about relevance, skills, and persistence.

Riya, the MBA graduate who was once rejected, now mentors her juniors on the same topic. Her advice sums it up best:

“That one rejection letter made me rethink everything. But it also made me fearless. You don’t need every opportunity - you just need the right one to say yes.”

In today’s job market, that’s the real definition of success.