This is the message I want to convey to young people who often hear ‘no’. Some things you should not internalize too much. What we see is a movement that people who are in a difficult situation are pushed into a certain corner. If you do your best to apply for jobs, and you are constantly rejected, this can give a negative self-image. And that is a shame and especially unnecessary.
Don’t immediately doubt yourself
I recently hired an intern who had endlessly called companies, but was never hired. The first thing I said to him was: it’s not you.
Among people who deal with rejection on the job market a lot, the first question they usually get when looking for an explanation is what the application letter looked like. Or the person has to defend themselves in some other way, already assuming that they are not capable enough if they are not hired. And that is not necessarily the case. Before you start doubting yourself, first consider: what has been your contribution?
Self-reflection is good but should not define self-worth
Self-reflection is good, but the appropriation of guilt is the problem. Sometimes you have to be realistic and acknowledge that you are being shut out. You may indeed also make mistakes, but other people who do get a chance make those too. It is important to not let your self-image get damaged and keep your pride. Maybe there is something you could have done better, but maybe not. It still means that you are a person of value and a contribution to society.
Self-reflection is important, but it should not define your self-worth. And your self-worth should not be defined by your success. I always believe that if you keep doing your best, opportunities will come. Even if they might be harder to find for one person than for another, and you have to try three or four times as hard as someone else. That is something we need to change, of course, so that opportunities are distributed more fairly, but unfortunately this is often still the situation we find ourselves in.
In my opinion, it is important to show that people with a migration background, or people who have stereotypic images, can also make it. If you then become successful, form a bridge for others so that they can also make it.