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There are very few people who aren’t faced with job rejection at some point in their careers.

Whether it be a missed promotion, an application brush-off or a succession of non-starters, job rejection can be painful and disappointing.

However, the way you deal with rejection can change it’s impact. You can be productive and make it work to your advantage or you can sulk in the corner wasting time. The choice is yours.

Whether you’ve been knocked back from the outset or made it to a final round of interviews, you are still within your rights to ask why you weren’t picked to go further and request to receive feedback which may be of subsequent use to you.

If you weren’t chosen for interview on the basis of your resume and application letter, why not ask to know why these documents fell short or what specifically this organisation was looking for. You will find that, more often than not, recruiters are only too willing to give post applicant feedback.

If you scored one or more interviews you can ask the same questions in relation to the responses you gave, your general manner or other information relating to how you presented yourself and discover if perhaps you were considered to be too casual or you didn’t focus on the right areas, for example.

This process also shows the employer you were serious about working for them and they are more likely to remember you when future positions arise.

It’s all in the name of improving with experience, building your confidence and learning from mistakes. However, you need to be prepared to hear constructive criticism and more importantly, to apply it.

Some people are so busy being deflated or defeated when on the receiving end of job rejection they forget that they’re not perfect and everyone has room for improvements.

Some employers will always promote internally and other jobs receive unthinkable amounts of applications, so it’s always worth remembering that certain positions are occasionally out of most people’s reach.

However, this should only fuel you further to apply for as many opportunities as you can so as to gain more and more practice, which will eventually lead you to the perfect role. Just as long as you keep requesting that feedback and apply it where possible rather than spending too much time dwelling on your losses. There’s work to be done!

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The first rule of thumb which should never be overlooked is that there are different approaches depending on the job or industry being targeted.

For example, it is not uncommon for a graphic designer or film animator to create a visually arresting and unconventional looking resume using artistic fonts and colours.

However, this approach would most certainly not be well received in more corporate environments. It, therefore, comes down to knowing your audience.

Perhaps there are times when a touch of colour might work for a retail position or even something customer service related, as long as you keep it looking professional and don’t go overboard.

In any case, however, you must ensure your CV is adaptable. Do not ever use the same blanket resume for every position you apply for. Every job and organisation has slightly or possibly dramatically different expectations and you must tailor your CV to suit each advertised role.

By directly relating your content to the specifications of the job description, you will instantly help your resume to stand out.

Remember also that many employers nowadays run your CV through a keyword check prior to even considering it. If yours fails to mention the appropriate words, it will go completely overlooked.

Common buzzwords might include the likes of strategic, proactive and innovative. However, the real clue to knowing which words to incorporate is generally in the job description, so be sure to examine it thoroughly, as it is your ultimate guide to what each employer is looking for.

Confidence is essential when creating your CV. Self promotion has never been more appropriate or essential when it comes to marketing yourself for a job.

Be sure to use strong, confident language which is direct and professional if you want the recruiter’s attention. Try not to over embellish and definitely do not tell lies. However, erring on the side of positivity and strengths rather than weaknesses is the way to go.

Being specific rather than general will also help your CV to stand out. Anyone can say they are good at something, but giving an example of particular events or quantifying results which highlight the strengths you are claiming to possess will back up your words and make you far more memorable.

Add to this a brief career summary and strive to avoid cliched phrases throughout and you are well on the way to a stand out, cutting edge CV.

The impact of stressful work situations is largely governed by how we react. The exact same scenario, for example, could have a vastly different outcome based on how workers deal with incoming stress, and whether precautionary strategies are already in place.

Most of us are familiar with the notion of keeping calm under pressure and resisting the urge to panic. However, stress can take varied forms from instant and alarming to slow burning and long term. As such, there are different ways to best manage job stress depending on the type, the source and the setting.

When stress in the workplace is sudden and abrupt, such as an unexpected conflict, accusation or legal issue, the temptation to panic and be alarmist or dramatic must always be avoided. One of the most valuable qualities an employee can possess is the ability to maintain grace under pressure so as to not elevate stress levels or cause additional damage.

Ideally, your workplace should have specific contingency plans in place in the event of these various emergencies. Rather than being caught off guard, employees know the protocol in advance and have had in-depth discussions and planning so they are ready to take action at any moment.

If your workplace has not implemented such strategies for sudden stressful events, it is highly advisable to develop concrete plans as a team, and designate staff members to particular responsibilities.

The ability to forecast potential stresses in relation to your organisation is key to being prepared and being able to respond quickly and confidently.

However, other versions of stress, such as a bullying boss or unmanageable workload, require different approaches.

Such examples tend to happen gradually over the course of time so it is a good idea to keep a record of each incident or details of the excessive work, highlighting the date, time and particulars.

When the time feels right, you can share your records with the most appropriate senior manager and calmly discuss how the situation has been making you feel and what can potentially be done about it. The key is to recall the details, and deal with them officially and equally at a later date, when resilience and steady thinking are stronger.

Throughout the process, however, you should never rise to the stress bait. Keep your emotions in check and stay calm and level headed, remembering to step away where necessary, even momentarily, in order to combat further stress.

When you keep in mind that you are making a record of current issues to be dealt with in due time, it can make it easier for you to deal with each stress as it happens, adding a certain security or feeling of future resolve, easing from the pressure of having upfront solutions, while emotions are heightened.

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