Have you been turned down for a position? Don’t send a nasty note! Here’s what to do when rejected from a job.

What should you do when you’re rejected from a job after an interview? Should you send a response? Say nothing? Cry? These are among the options that spring to mind.

You can cry if you feel like it. Then you should do these things: See also: 7 reasons why someone else gets the job (and what you can do about them)

Send a thank you note

You might not feel like it but they very first thing you should do is send a thank you note. Say thanks for the time that was spent on your resume and interview and what a pleasure it was meeting the people that you met. It’s fine to express disappointment that you were not selected, but also a good idea to say you’re happy they found the right person for the role (as suggested in this CNBC article) – even if you’re not happy about it.

Note that letting you know you didn’t get the job is a lot more than some companies will do, so it’s a laudable action. So many companies ghost candidates these days, even after rounds of interviews. So, if you get a response, they should know you’re grateful for it.

I recently read a news piece about a rejected job applicant who sent a response to the hiring manager who turned him down with a note that read simply “F*** you.” Do not do that! It might be one of the reasons employers are reluctant to give a firm “no.” They’re usually only able to hire one person and they don’t deserve to be abused for it. Note that (almost) nobody likes to deliver bad news (maybe psychos do). It doesn’t help to make it worse.

Ask for feedback

You might as well also ask for some feedback. They might not tell you anything – many employers fear being accused of discrimination and sued, even if they are not discriminating (while some surely are). But it can’t hurt to ask. Maybe they’ll shed some light on ways in which you can improve or maybe it was just that the other person had a little more education or was a better fit with the company culture.

Asking for feedback will paint you in a good light – the light of someone who is eager to learn and improve.

Stay connected

You can also ask how you can stay on their radar for future opportunities (also suggested in the CNBC article). And it can’t hurt to follow up in a few months through email or social media. Not every new hire works out so check back in after 90 days – the length of a typical probation period – and ask if anything has opened up -like maybe that same job. After all, you were somewhere near the top of the line.

Remain connected on LinkedIn and be sure to like and comment on posts you find relevant.

You never know what the future might bring. So, don’t burn bridges and stay as positive as possible.