How To: Deal with Job Rejections 

This week, Contributing Editor Liza Bilal shares their experiences and advice for those facing repeated job rejections.

Breaking into the creative industry in the UK has never been easy, but right now, it feels more challenging than ever. If you've been ghosted after completing hours of applications, or watched someone with family connections leapfrog into a role you were desperate for, you're not alone.  

Figures (Abre numa nova janela) from the Office for National Statistics published in March show that the number of job vacancies in the UK fell in 2024-2025. Moreover, research (Abre numa nova janela) from Sutton Trust (2024) revealed that across television, film and music, high-profile figures in the creative industries are far more likely to have been privately educated than is proportionate to the UK population. In other words, there’s less jobs available and fiercer competition to get them.  

As someone well-versed in the art of job hunting, I too have experienced the disappointment that comes after reading the word “unfortunately…” in an email. In this week’s Learner Platform column, I’m going to give you my top 5 tips for navigating job rejection while keeping your confidence and sanity intact.