Did you know….

•            Walt Disney was fired from one of his first animation jobs because his editor felt he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”

•            The Beatles were rejected by Decca recording studio because “We don’t like their sound – they have no future in show business”.

•            And Oprah Winfrey was demoted from her job as a news anchor because “she wasn’t fit for television”?

It can be rather reassuring to know that even “successful” public figures and professional role models have suffered failures along the way.  Most of the time though, setbacks in career journeys are rarely mentioned giving the impression of a smooth road to success that is put down to natural talent, ability, or luck. 

CVs of failure

To counter this, Neurobiologist researcher Melanie Stefan writing in the Nature journal started the idea of recording an alternative “CV of failure” to illustrate just how many research proposals rejections she had received compared to successful ones, noting she only mentions the one project that worked at conferences, not the many that failed.  

And Professor Johannes Haushofer at Princeton University took this further bravely posting degree programs he did not get into and academic positions he did not get to “balance the record” and encourage others to keep trying.

Effortless is a myth

Of course, it is expected that successful professionals will have a positive narrative on their CV and social media profile to highlight their skills, achievements and accolades – that is what we would advise too! But much can be learnt also from the story behind the success and how they handled the inevitable rejections, failures, and disappointments. 

High profile speakers sometimes openly share these with students at career events or graduation ceremonies (See Roger Federer’s speech “Effortless is a myth” at Dartmouth College Graduation ceremony), helping to reduce the shame attached to failures and inspiring us all to keep going in the face of adversity.

Learning how to fail

The development of podcasts like “How To Fail with Elizabeth Day” show us the value of talking about our failures. It celebrates the things in life that haven’t gone right, showcasing personal and professional stories of resilience. Each week, Elizabeth’s guest explores three failures covering what these failures have taught them about how to grow and succeed.

These insights with “successful” people help us to connect with them as fallible human beings and see that most often success is linked to effort and perseverance rather than pure talent and good luck.

American psychologist Professor Carol Dweck‘s research on resilience and growth mindset has shown how much success does depend on your mindset. She coined the phrase ‘growth mindset’ as a belief that you can develop your skills and talents through hard work, the right strategies, and guidance from others.

She noted that people with a growth mindset take on challenges and view mistakes as normal when trying something new.  Developments in neuroscience now show that the brain is malleable and that it grows faster through making mistakes! 

Recognising failure and mistakes in the workplace

Progressive and innovative businesses now actively encourage their employees to discuss their mistakes and failures acknowledging how this is inextricably linked to trying out new ideas and learning from them.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said: “We need to be willing to lean into uncertainty, take risks and move quickly when we make mistakes, recognizing failure happens along the way to mastery.” Which is why graduate employers often ask candidates in job interviews to describe a failure or significant challenge.  They want to understand their mindset and approach to setbacks which will inevitably occur.

So how can we manage our own failures and rejections?

• Remember we all fail. Failure is normal.  Failure is how you learn so learn how to tolerate failure.  Expect some failures as part of your road to success.
• Acknowledge it takes courage to take risks and attempt something new. This will feel uncomfortable so access any support available to help you manage this (e.g. the Careers team!)  
• Experiencing failure and making mistakes will help you learn and develop resilience.  Whether it’s failing a course module or receiving a job rejection. Ask for feedback, what can I do differently, what extra support can I get to help in the future?
• Accept that failure and rejection is painful and can make you feel vulnerable. Allow yourself time to process the disappointment. Talk it out with a trusted friend, family member or access appropriate professional support staff so you can work through it and let it go.
• Ask your mentors and role models about their approach to setbacks to provide hope and renew motivation.
• Think of ways to reframe failure. “Failure is only feedback” or as Thomas Edison said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
• Keep it in perspective – a rejection doesn’t define you. Separate success and failure from your self-worth.  If you get rejected from a job opportunity, check your mindset. Rather than thinking “I am a failure”, be specific and think “I was not successful with that particular application, what can I do differently next time?”
• Think about what “success” really looks like to you. Reflect on what you really value in life and set goals that are meaningful to you rather than following other people’s view of success.   
• Reflect on your own approach to failure.  What examples could you talk about in an interview to demonstrate resilience and your ability to learn from your mistakes?
• Connect with and use your support network!  
• And finally, book an appointment with a Careers consultant.  We listen to your fears and concerns and can provide support with anything related to your future career or job plans.

Sources and resources

www.nature.com/articles/nj7322-467a

https://www.vox.com/2016/4/29/11537970/cv-of-failures-princeton