Being rejected is a horrible experience. But it’s something that happens to everyone in freelancing once in a while. It’s super important that rejection doesn’t define you, and you don’t get too down heartened. As a freelancer, you will win some contracts, and you will lose some. That’s just the way it goes.

In most instances, rejection isn’t personal. The likelihood is that there was someone better suited to the work than you or that the client returned to a freelancer they had previously worked with. While this is little consolation, it should help you realize that it’s not a reflection of your capacity as a freelancer.

Because rejection isn’t easy to deal with, we’ve shared six tips with you to help you work through it and emerge at the other end stronger and better prepared for your next gig.

1] Don’t beat yourself up. 

When you experience rejection, you need to try and accept it and move on. Dwelling on the rejection and beating yourself up will get you nowhere. The sooner you can accept the reality, the easier it will be for you to move on.

After all, you’ve only been rejected by one client for one gig. There are literally hundreds of thousands of gig opportunities every day, so you need to stay motivated and get back out into the market. Beating yourself up and feeling sorry for yourself certainly won’t help you in the long run.

2] Be polite, courteous & follow up.

If someone has rejected you, you need to retain your professionalism. Even if you’re deeply disappointed and upset, you should never abuse or be rude to a client. Instead, thank them for their time and wish them the best of luck with their project.

Sending a polite follow-up message will leave a lasting impression on a client. If things don’t work out well with the freelancer they’ve gone with this time, they may come back to you in the near future. Being courteous doesn’t cost anything, but it’s a great way to build your network and stay in the frame for potential work in the future.

3] Review your offer. 

Following a rejection, take a few minutes to reflect on the offer that you submitted. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Did I quote a price that was too cheap or too expensive?
• Was I clear with my timeframes?
• Did I adequately articulate my services and make myself stand out?
• Did I back up my claims with client testimonials and previous work examples?

In preparation for your next gig, look for ways to improve your offer and ensure you give yourself the best opportunity to secure the work that you’re applying for.

4] Ask for feedback. 

Receiving feedback is an excellent way to improve in the future. While you might not necessarily get a response, feel free to message your clients and ask them what it was about your offer they didn’t like. You could word it in a way that shows your keen to improve, so you might ask something like the following:

“Thanks for taking the time to consider my pitch. I wish you the best of luck with your work going forward. If you don’t mind, could you offer me advice on how I could improve my offer, so we could potentially work together in the future?” 

If you get a response, you can use it to adapt your offer and implement changes when you’re looking for gigs in the future.

5] Try something different the next time. 

Freelancers need to adapt in order to be successful. You can’t appeal to every individual or company you interact with, and you will be overlooked for various projects that you apply for. If you’ve been unsuccessful, use it as an opportunity to try something different next time.

You might adjust your pricing and timeframes, or perhaps you could alter your approach to communication. Even subtle changes can work in your favour and present you with an excellent opportunity to find work going forward.

6] Acknowledge that rejection is part of the freelancing life. 

The very nature of a freelancer’s life means that rejection is inevitable. The vast majority of freelancers have to secure their own projects and find new clients. Even those at the very top of their game experience rejection, as everyone looks for something slightly different when recruiting for project work.

If you acknowledge that rejection is part and parcel of the gig economy, you won’t be so disheartened when it happens. The pros of a freelancer lifestyle greatly outweigh the cons, and rejection is just one of the drawbacks to working in the gig economy.

Closing thoughts. 

If you experience rejection as a freelancer, it means you’re doing something right. It means you’re putting yourself out there, looking for work, and hoping to find new clients. If you fear rejection, it limits what you’re able to achieve.

Freelancing is about finding clients and collaborating on the projects that you love. Don’t let rejection consume you, and keep trying. Freelancing is an awesome way to earn a living, even if you do experience setbacks once in a while.