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Reply to a job rejection and ask about the upcoming role

Practice: Getting the tone right. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You just got a rejection email that mentions a similar role opening soon. Reply in at most 3 sentences, plain text: thank the recruiter for rescheduling your interview when your son was sick, ask to be considered for the upcoming role by its exact title, and say nothing about why you weren't chosen. No disappointment, no requests for feedback, no sign-off longer than your first name. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Writing too much. The AI writes a full paragraph of thanks, hopes and well-wishes. Try: Add: "At most 3 sentences."
  • Generic thanks or vague interest. "Thank you for the opportunity" and "keep me in mind" are what everyone writes. Try: Add: "Thank her for rescheduling my interview. Name the Patient Experience Coordinator role."
  • A formal sign-off. The AI ends with "Best regards, Luis Fontaine" plus contact lines. Try: Add: "Sign off with just 'Luis'."
  • Asking why. The AI asks for feedback or says you're disappointed, which reads as pushback. Try: Add: "Don't ask why or for feedback. No disappointment."
  • Adding formatting. Bold or headings look odd in a short email reply. Try: Add: "Plain text only."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Thanks one specific thing
  • Names the upcoming role
  • Rules out asking why
  • Limits the sentences
  • Asks for plain text

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