Sometimes you may not get what you want, and it is okay.

If you have ever had a dream job or company in mind, you are like me and many others out there who strive hard to work their way up the career ladder. A year ago, I stopped chasing the dream of a dream job. Instead, I kept my options open and learned to face rejections and failures head-on. I learned the hard way that failures and rejections in professional life are part of our journey, and I should not let them take over my life and mess with my mind. Let me tell you more about how I learned this lesson the hard way. 

Since I do not want to divulge anything about the dream organization I mentioned, I will call it Mojo. I have always wanted to work for Mojo. In 2016, I was at their swanky office in the suburbs. Mojo is a one-of-a-kind organization that offers groundbreaking technology solutions, has an enviable work culture, and helps its community join the mission to help the less fortunate out there. In other words, Mojo is the golden gate every ambitious person will look for to have a stellar career. I was no different. I stood at the doorstep for a while before leaving and hoped to return as an employee someday. 

Over the years, I kept applying for every position that matched my skill set, but I was always getting turned down or straight-up ignored. I prepared a lot, tried as hard as possible, but rejection reared its ugly head my way all the time. I always received that one sentence I dreaded seeing - “Unfortunately, we decided to move ahead with another candidate.” 

With every rejection, I started feeling more and more defeated. The negativity erupted like molten lava inside me and tanked my confidence. I kept thinking about what was wrong and what I could have done differently. I wallowed and seethed after very rejection, and then, after trying for years, now I have willed myself to move on.

Rejection letters and emails are almost impossible to accept. It was hard to shake off my pain and disappointment. I respect the decisions made by the company, and I understand that they felt somebody else was better suited for every job I applied for in the past.

So, instead of getting drowned in the rejection rut, here is what I did:

I stopped overthinking and overanalyzing the rejections, I stopped slicing and dicing what happened, and I stopped beating myself down or accusing myself. Well, it was not an easy step at all. It was time-consuming and intense, but I knew I had to do it all to rebound in a positive direction, and I did all that it took to land back on my feet and start moving forward. And when I began finding light at the end of the tunnel, it was easy to come to terms with and accept the rejections from Mojo. I was also able to focus on the other opportunities that came my way. 

When you overanalyze and get stuck in remorseful thoughts, you will get stuck there forever until you pick yourself and move forward. I learned it the hard way. It is okay to be sad about job rejection. Every day, many talented applicants face job rejections. And it is okay to give yourself the time to be upset. But here is what you must remember - Never let rejections engulf you. Get back up, talk yourself up, and most importantly, never get your heart set on a particular job or organization. If you keep your options open, you will more likely land a great job soon. Again, I learned this the hard way.

Take it with a grain of salt

My take on Glassdoor reviews

When we need help to find a good restaurant or pick out a new book or a smartphone, what do we do? Turn to customer reviews, of course! But when it comes to making employment decisions, is it a good idea to make decisions based on company reviews? Should sites like Glassdoor fit into or become an integral part of our job hunt? I don't think so.

Before diving into the details, here is a caveat: I am not saying that Glassdoor reviews are not useful at all. But, while making a career decision, one should not rely heavily on the reviews posted anonymously. Let me tell you why - Any disgruntled employee can hide behind a screen and easily target and tarnish a company's reputation by venting all the anger and frustration and by writing all the negative things possible.

On the other hand, if companies encourage or force employees to leave only positive reviews,  it is almost impossible to get the accurate inside information that can guide your decision. And, if someone has a personal vendetta against a manager or another employee, the avenue they can easily take advantage of to pour out their anger and vengeance is Glassdoor. If you notice carefully, when it comes to the credibility of the reviewers and the accuracy of the claims and statements made by each reviewer, Glassdoor doesn't take any responsibility.

Then why is Glassdoor so important? While researching for the next potential employer, Glassdoor is the go-to platform and primary source for you, me, and many other people out there. With less potent competitors like AmbitionBox and Indeed, they don't face any significant market competition. But most of the reviews on Glassdoor are about extreme feelings - either good or bad. The claims often look too impulsive and exaggerated. Generally, the larger the data, the more accurate the information.  But for me, this rule doesn't apply to Glassdoor reviews.

Either you can find a flood of positive reviews or an avalanche of negative reviews where reviewers rant and vent their frustration and spew negative opinions in front of a group of vulnerable audience who often get swayed and misled easily.

If the reviews sound too good to be true or if the number is disproportionately positive, I don't trust them at all. And, if multiple posts include the same points written in noticeably similar ways, that's an obvious red flag.  For me, both are equally undependable. No matter which website I go through, I always trust those reviews with an even-handed approach. Unfortunately, these days, you cannot say both Glassdoor and neutral reviews in the same breath.

Here is another reason why I don't rely much on Glassdoor reviews - As far as I know, Glassdoor doesn't have any transparent methods to identify the reviews that left by choice and remove the fake ones or those with vested interests. It means anyone can post reviews on Glassdoor, about any company, at any point in time, with hardly any credible verification. And, there is nothing that stops a reviewer from posting multiple reviews from different ids. Does that mean one shouldn't trust Glassdoor reviews? I won't say that.  Instead, I leave that decision to your own best judgment.

You cannot verify the identity of the reviewers on Glassdoor. But you can stop yourself from rejecting a job opportunity or a company solely based on negative reviews. Instead of letting other's opinions cloud your judgment, it's always good to explore for yourself and then arrive at a decision. In other words, make decisions based on facts and not assumptions. A prior connection or a former colleague who works for the organization you are about to start working for can give their perspective. However, you must always do your due diligence and make the best guess before making your career decisions.

Do you know why such websites thrive and succeed? They always take advantage of your quest to find the workplace of your dreams. Firstly, you have to let go of the idea of a dream workplace. There is no such thing. Take the time and effort to make wise choices, and never assume you can find the best workplace ever by just relying on Glassdoor reviews.