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4 steps to regain confidence after a rejected submission

You submitted a proposal for a contract that you really cared about. You've polished your presentation. You gave it your all. Then, this morning, a rejection letter landed in your inbox. It's normal to feel disappointment and wonder about what went wrong. But first, you should know that... <h3>Being told no is normal</h3> As someone who is self-employed, you will be told "no" at one point or another. It's inevitable. In the vast majority of cases, having your submission rejected is nothing personal. Was your approach professional, polished, and organized? If so, then you probably have nothing to blame yourself for. There are several reasons why an application may be rejected: <ul> <li> The company received dozens of submissions and has only one contract </li> <li> Your skills don't quite match the current needs </li> <li> Your rates exceed the budget for the contract </li> <li> The timing is not right </li> </ul> A refusal is therefore not a judgment of your value, your talent or your skills. Rather, it's an observation: you weren't the right person at the right time. <h3>How to bounce back from a rejected submission</h3> Take a step back. Dealing with an email that rejects your submission isn't a professional failure, but it can still cause a storm of emotions. Give yourself time to experience them, then take a moment to breathe before reacting. This will help you keep a cool head, and you will be able to carry out a more objective analysis of the situation. Doing a self-assessment is essential to understand what worked and what did not. Here are some questions to guide your thinking: <ul> <li> Did your documents highlight your strengths relevant to the job and company? </li> <li> Was your approach personalized? </li> <li> If there was a meeting, did you seem prepared and confident? </li> <li> Were there any key skills or experiences you were missing for the role? </li> </ul> The key is to remind yourself that you're not the problem. It's nobody's fault. But that doesn't mean you necessarily continue with the same approach, because every experience is an opportunity to adjust and grow. Ask for feedback to improve The best way to move forward after a rejection is to understand what can be improved. To do this, you can respond kindly to the message informing you that another contractor was selected. Thank the person for their follow-up, and then ask them, in a professional manner, if it would be possible to get some constructive feedback. Conclude your message by keeping the door open to other possible collaborations. Who knows, the company may need your services one day? You can also ask your network for advice. Use these comments and tips to refine your approach strategy and presentation materials, such as your resume, portfolio or cover letter. If the feedback highlights that you were missing certain knowledge, consider taking training to acquire it. This can be very relevant if you want to get similar contracts. This feedback can also help you refine your presentation in future interviews or reinforce your approach to new prospects. For example, if the feedback is, "Your portfolio was interesting, but we would have liked to see more examples of projects specific to our industry," you may decide to include case studies focused on the company's industry in your next submission or reorganize your portfolio to make it stand out. Adjust your perspective. After analyzing everything you could improve in your submission, take a moment to recognize your successes as well! How many times have you been chosen from dozens of qualified individuals? How many clients have told you they love working with you? These <a href="https://www.momenteo.com/blog/freelancer-the-importance-of-celebrating-your-victories">successes</a> matter! It's also important to recognize that every refusal, no matter how disappointing, can be positive and allow other doors to open. The time you don't spend on this contract may allow you to accept another project that is even better aligned with your vision, values and goals. Persevere Being told no is never pleasant. But it's not the end of the world. And you'll see, over time, not getting a contract will become less difficult. So, continue to apply, introduce yourself, and test approaches with potential clients. If you have an analytical mind, get into the habit of writing down the feedback you receive from your prospects. You can then use it to adjust your strategy and increase the success rate of your efforts. To motivate yourself, set realistic goals. For example, in the next week, you might want to: <ul> <li> send five service proposals to companies that may need your services </li> <li> Set up an exploratory meeting with a potential client </li> <li> Conduct research on a topic that complements your current skills </li> <li> Take a course or webinar in your area of expertise </li> <li> Update your portfolio with a recent successful project </li> </ul> These concrete actions will allow you to see the real progress of your business and stay on track. Take the opportunity to celebrate your victories, big or small. Being told "no" is an inevitable fact of freelancing. By applying these four steps, you turn every rejection into a learning opportunity. But remember: one day, it may be your turn to say no to contracts that do not suit you, to clients who do not respect your values or your limits. <a href="https://www.momenteo.com/blog/declining-a-project-why-and-how">Knowing how</a> to refuse also means asserting your worth and charting your own path. <h3>Key points to remember to bounce back from a rejection</h3> <ul> <li> Remember, if you are not selected for a contract, it is not personal </li> <li> Take a step back to objectively analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your application </li> <li> Ask for constructive feedback to better guide your next proposal </li> <li> Be persistent and recognize your progress over time. </li> </ul> --- Roxane has always written and dreamed of making a living from her pen. Now a web editor, proofreader and author, we can say that it's mission accomplished.

Roxane