Most of us will probably apply for more positions than we get. You need to be prepared to deal with career disappointment from time to time. The farther along the application process you make it, the more it can sting when you learn you weren’t the successful candidate. You can quickly find yourself dreaming of the new job even before you make it there. If things are frustrating in your current role, this rejection is all the more painful. Here are five ways to bounce back from a failed job application.

Failing is learning

If you made it a long way in the application process, you likely had an interview. Think back about what you can take away from the experience. Were there areas that you could develop further? Keep in mind, you likely made a good enough impression to get through the door initially – are there ways to further build the relationship with the hiring panel members? As a member of a hiring committee, we interviewed a number of strong candidates for a position, including one candidate who was coming from another industry, but had many of the transferable skills we were looking for. We ended up going another way, but we were so impressed by the candidate that six months later we remembered him, built a position around his skill set and then bee-lined straight for him. A few weeks later, we hired him quickly, through a hand-holding interview process. This candidate’s initial attempt at getting hired, while unsuccessful, ended up putting him clearly on our radar and setting him up effectively for future job success.

Plan to make a plan

Having a plan for your career development is essential. By having a process that you can trust will help you move forward (even if you might not feel like doing so at that moment). Who are the next three people you should set up information interviews with? What feedback did you get from the interview? Are there areas that you need to build on that would help your future applications(s)? If so, develop an action plan for how you can address these gaps through either your current role or through volunteer work. Especially in the twilight of rejection, focusing on your plan can be a sure-fire way to mentally move yourself forward and out of any self-doubt or frustration you may be feeling.

Get perspective

Misery loves company and we’ve all felt this disappointment. Take a friend or mentor out for a drink and let them know how you’re feeling. Odds are they’ve got similar stories to share. It’ll make you feel better to hear these stories and also remind them that you are still on the hunt. Bonus points if you can convert these supportive conversations into ally-ship, getting your friend, contact or mentor to invest in your success by providing advice, counsel or guidance on next steps.

Fit is everything

For many people, the days of waiting post-interview can be exhausting. You are constantly checking your phone or email for word. As the days go by, you realize no news is bad news (usually). This can be tough. If you are like me, you’ll spend plenty time second guessing yourself: “if I’d only mentioned my experience working on Project X, when they asked me about my ability to work well in a team.” It’s easy and understandable to get caught up in this way of thinking.

It can also be counter-productive.

While you may not have been perfect in your interview, you were hopefully authentic. A recruiter friend once told me that in addition to skills and experience, most employers are really looking for fit. It’s a tough concept to define, but one that’s crucial if you are having trouble tangibly wrapping your head around why you didn’t get the position you may feel you are imminently qualified for. In this case, odds are they found someone they felt would be a better fit and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about that. Instead of obsessing about what words you should have used, turn your attention to areas you can control – were there skills or experience they were looking for which you could focus future energies developing? If so, get a move on – focusing on what is beyond your control is a zero sum game.

Stay positive

This can be the hardest thing to do if you are faced with rejection. But it really is critical. When you do your future information interviews, networking and engagement, staying up-beat is a key element for your future success. And why shouldn’t you be up-beat? While you lost out on a great job, you got an opportunity to build your network (with your interviewers), got insight into your career (and what you could develop), and will be exposed to new, exciting positions in the future. There is no one and only dream job. Another position will come along and thanks to this application process you’ll be only better equipped to snag the next one.