Rejection email, we meet again
Written by Zoé Willem & Illustrated by Tom Godfrey
Published 7th October 2021
© Tom Godfrey
Like all annoying things in life, you don’t really want to deal with them but they still find their way into your inbox. Same old rejection email, we meet again.
There are different kinds of rejection emails. The ones that thank you for your application and encourage you to keep applying for other positions available in the future. You know, just in case they’d change their minds. Or the ones that give you weird generic compliments, and make you feel truly unique, such as: “While we were impressed by your application, we decided to go with someone else.”
There is also the one you get two months after applying and you’d totally forgotten you ever applied for the job. To that email, I often whisper sarcastically to my computer: “No way, I had no idea!” or just laugh nervously.
And then there is the special one. The one that feels like it has been written by an actual human being, where you have a real email address and not an auto-generated answer. The one where you can actually ask for some feedback if they didn’t already generously give you some. The precious one that can actually help you in your journey.
If you are reading this article, you probably have received a lot of rejection emails in your life. Maybe you are getting sick of seeing those in your inbox? Maybe you collected them as a reality check to stay humble no matter how great you are doing now. Maybe you would like to see a great love letter instead or have the job offered right away? Sadly, I can’t give you the perfect recipe for that as I’m still trying to figure it out myself. What I can do instead is offer some creative things to do with those emails.
Before we start with the artsy therapy crafts, let me remind you that you are doing great. As you probably have heard, some time will come when you get a positive answer and the world will become a perfect fairy tale or something. Like Cinderella, you will find an internship or junior position that matches your foot size. I know, it’s not exactly how the story went for her but you got the idea… As some people say, it means “it’s not the right position” or “it’s not the right time” and “what is meant for you will not pass you by”. For sure good things will come so don’t despair, don’t give up, and keep learning. I’ve heard it’s a process after all.
Now I invite you to keep reading for some crafty ideas and design briefs to transform those rejections emails into something else. Something useful, like an opportunity to blow off some steam, have fun or even create some new designs. 100% proven to be good for your mental health.
01: To blow off some steam - The Piñata
Print all of those emails. If you don’t have enough of those (lucky you!), just print your favorite ones a few times. We will use them to create a great Piñata.
Now just blow up a balloon. Shred those emails into strips of paper and create your “papier-maché” texture with 1 cup of flour and 1,5 cup of water.
Coat the pieces of paper in the mixture and cover your balloon with the remains of those rejections.
Give it the shape you want. You could shape it after the logo of LinkedIn, give it the look of an email inbox, a computer, your degree, or anything that could symbolize your frustration related to job hunting.
Once you are happy with the look of your piñata, it’s time to cut a hole and fill it with candy or anything else. Before closing the hole, put a string inside and then close the hole with a piece of cardboard and some duct tape.
If those explanations aren’t detailed enough, don’t hesitate to google: how to make a homemade piñata. I’m sure you’ll find great tips and pieces of art or great materials for an interesting Pinterest board. Have to be honest here, I’m not a homemade Piñata expert.
Once you’re done, you actually get to the fun part. Use all your frustration and rage to hit it until it gives you some tasty candy that will soften your broken heart.
02: To stay motivated - The inspirational quotes
Select some hidden compliments in those emails and highlight them with a fluorescent pen. Now they generally sound pretty generic or passive-aggressive. Like a compliment that doesn’t feel very nice. Like when someone says your work is “interesting” or “original” with a face tainted with disgust or when your uncle asking you to smile for no reason because “you look better when you smile” …
Highlight those generic compliments and create a type design or motivational poster with it. Make it look empowering and inspiring, friendly like someone giving you free stuff or sharing their food.
For the medium, you can be as bold as you want or keep it simple. It can be an Instagram post, some motivational poster to put on your window, some greeting cards to send to your peers and feed their motivation, a nice rug to look at every day, or any other crazy idea you could have.
Now share your results somewhere to show all the other struggling graduates that they are not alone. Knowing people go through the same shit as you usually help. And remember that you are rocking it, you are a superstar, keep on with the good work!
03: To become literate - Write some poems
You can select your favourite words or sentences from all those emails and make some poetic art pieces.
This one doesn’t need many explanations but here is an example:
The amount of interest
And the quality of applications
Has been overwhelmingI’m afraid
On this occasion
You weren’t thrivingThe role has been filled
Thank you for the interest in
If you’re not into poems that much, wake up the writer inside you and come up with a sketch, a dark novel, or anything you actually fancy.
04: For confidence - Change it into a love letter or a mantra
Write the email you wish you would have received. Don’t hesitate to give yourself the best compliments possible, make it very specific, and replace every annoying sentence with something that makes you smile. A real one, where you show all your teeth, even the ones that we are not supposed to see. Give yourself real feedbacks and encourage your personal growth by highlighting the things you have achieved already.
Once the letter is done, print it and frame it! Or even more symbolic, send it to your inbox.
I’m done with the artsy therapy crafts idea. I hope you enjoyed those or that article made you laugh. If you do try some, please share your result. Take care of yourself during those challenging times and just one more time I want to congratulate you for putting yourself out there!
About the author
I’m Zoé (with an accent), a multi-disciplinary designer, coming straight from Belgium (great chocolate, great beers). I studied illustration, graphic design and fashion design. I have an unhealthy obsession for the colours red and blue, sustainable or independent streetwear and love to reflect on ambivalent feelings. I tend to approach topics through visual metaphors, with a weird sense of humour or a poetic outlook. And my big goal is to create understanding and spread compassion.
