How to Deal with Rejection as a New Freelancer

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It’s inevitable. You’re not going to get every job that you apply for or that you receive an enquiry about. Learning how to deal with rejection is part of being a new freelancer.

Some of your potential clients will say that you’re too expensive, that you don’t have enough experience, or that someone else is a better fit. Some of them won’t even tell you that you didn’t get the job. They’ll just ghost you!

If you want to stay sane as a freelancer or small business owner, you can’t let this hit you too hard. Dwelling on the rejections isn’t healthy. It will make you feel bad about yourself and make you start to doubt your ability to make your business a success.

Don’t let this happen! Here are some tips to help you bounce back from rejection and nip those feelings in the bud.

Keep the doors to the future open

Take the rejection with as much good grace as you can muster. Responding negatively or aggressively will not encourage them to contact you again in the future. If you would like to work with this client in the future, then tell them you understand their decision, thank them for considering you, and ask them to please keep you in mind for future projects.

Counteroffer with another service

You probably think that the doors to working with this client are completely closed, but if you offer another service that you think this client might need, then now is the time to mention it.

Missed out on a copyediting job? Let them know you’re also available to proofread.

They went with another writer? Maybe you could manage their social media posts instead.

Do something productive to take your mind off it

I recently lost out on a job to someone whose rates were cheaper than mine. I was devastated, but I realized that I didn’t want to sit there and feel sorry for myself. I’ve had enough of that lately.

So I started to work on my blog instead and got stuck into writing an upcoming blog post. In doing this, I got ahead of schedule on my blog and distracted myself for a few hours. Once I had finished writing the post, I didn’t feel as bad about the rejection because I knew I had had a really productive day even if it didn’t go quite as I had hoped.

Analyze (but don’t over analyze) why they didn’t choose you

Did they provide you with any feedback? The best way to find out why they didn’t choose you is straight from the horse’s mouth. Be aware that you might not like their response though. If that’s the case, try to act as respectfully as possible.

If you have been receiving a lot of rejection, it might be wise to analyze the situation and see if you can identify a reason why you might be losing out on these jobs.

Are your rates too high compared to your competitors? Do some research to see what rates other people are offering. If you think that your skills and experience merit a higher rate than some of your competitors, make it clear to potential clients the extra value they will get from working with you.

Do you need to work on your communication skills? Are you upfront with providing information about your services or do clients feel like they’re pulling teeth trying to get information from you? Make a list of the frequently asked questions you receive and work these into your pitch/proposal. This will ensure that clients have all the relevant information to help them make their choice.

Are you too slow off the mark? The potential client may be contacting several freelancers. It could be a case of first up best dressed. Try to respond as quickly as you can to enquiries.

Avoid getting into a cycle of overanalyzing why you didn’t get the job. Doing this will suck you down into a hole that you may find difficult to get out of. Just because you missed out on a few opportunities doesn’t mean that you’ll never get another one.

Set a time limit on how long you’re going to keep thinking about this one rejection. Allow yourself 24–48 hours and then move on.

Related Content: How to Crush Imposter Syndrome

Create a Smile folder

I’ve read this piece of advice a few times now (sorry, can’t remember exactly where), but it’s something that I’m going to do. Create a folder on your computer and call it Smile. Save any positive emails, comments, or testimonials that you’ve received into this folder. When you’re feeling rejected, open the folder and read some of the comments. Doing this will lift your spirits and remind you that you are good at what you do and that you can be successful in future. You could also print some of these comments out and stick them up around your desk for a daily reminder.

You could even create a vision board where you stick comments, quotes, photos, and stickers that will help you visualize yourself being successful. This will help you stay motivated to keep trying even when things aren’t going your way.

Be good to yourself

If all else fails, take a break and pamper yourself. Watch your favorite movie, eat some nice chocolate, or head outside for a walk to clear your head. Check out a recent blog post I wrote that has some great tips on how to bounce back after a hard day.

Do you have any advice on how to deal with rejection as a new freelancer? Leave a comment below and share it with us!