Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian rejected his bronze medal at the Olympics this week after complaining that the judging was unfair. In the world of interviewing, losing a job to another candidate can also be a huge disappointment. When a job seeker is passed over for another candidate, they often feel that this signals the end of the relationship with the hiring manager. But the reality is that many employers continue to keep track of their “silver and bronze medalists” and will consider them for future positions within the company.If you don’t receive a job offer that you expected, put your feelings of disappointment aside long enough to create a strategy for continuing to network with the hiring authority that you have already spent significant time cultivating a relationship with. The Olympics may only come along every few years, but a great job opportunity can happen at any time. Don’t burn any bridges or squander any opportunities to continue to communicate with decision makers at a company you are interested in.
