Freelancing allows for freedom, flexibility, the opportunity to work with fellow creatives, and the ability to choose projects that play to your strengths as an individual. All of these perks are pretty hard to come by at regular office jobs, and they are what make the freelance lifestyle so appealing. There is, however, one thing freelancers face much more of than the average worker – rejection. If you’re just starting to get your feet wet in the world of freelancing, here’s everything you need to know about how to deal with work-related rejection.

Don’t Take It Personally

One of the most important things you can do as a freelancer facing rejection is not to take it personally. As much as rejection sucks, an unsuccessful pitch doesn’t make you a failure. In fact, the reason a client may have opted to not go with you probably has very little to do with you as a person, and there are, oftentimes, many other factors at play. Over-analyzing the situation and getting discouraged will only cause you to burn out, so take the rejection in stride and keep it pushing!

Use It As A Learning Experience

Freelancing is a career that takes some time to figure out, and learning on the job is an absolute must. After you’ve been rejected, look over your piece of work or pitch and try to find missteps like spelling errors and unsuitable content that may have led them to go with someone else. When it’s appropriate, you can ask a client for feedback that you can also use to learn and grow.

Analyze Your Price Point

Sometimes a client may choose to go with another freelancer simply because they can’t afford your rate. This is another reason why it’s essential to try and get feedback following rejection. If you are continuously getting turned down, it’s probably worth your while to analyze your price point and question whether your prices are realistic for the clients you’re seeking out.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

Being dead set on landing and working with one particular client is dangerous as a freelancer. Instead of letting a recent rejection get you down, reach out to as many other potential clients as possible and diversify your portfolio. You never know when a company’s financial structure will change or if they’ll require another freelancer to meet current business needs.

Remember That Rejection Happens to Everyone

As humans, finding solace in knowing that you’re not alone is sometimes all it takes to feel better about a situation, and this is especially true when it comes to dealing with rejection. Some of the most successful people have had to deal with rejection over and over again before anyone took them seriously. If you’re feeling some type of way about a business deal that didn’t come to fruition, just think about the fact that JK Rowling got turned down by over a dozen publishers for Harry Potter before she finally found someone that was interested!

At the end of the day, while rejection may sting in the moment, it can actually motivate you to do better, force you to reconsider your goals, and ultimately change the trajectory of your career for the better.

At Project Spaces, we house some of the most creative and hardworking freelancers in the city at our Toronto coworking spaces. The sense of comradery that our members get from working alongside like-minded individuals makes the freelance hustle that much more enjoyable. Book a tour today and join the fam!