How to Deal with Rejection as a Freelance Proofreader

Regardless of how successful your freelance proofreading career is, rejection is inevitable at some point. Whether it’s in-person rejection, a difficult client, or a negative response to a cold email, it can be hard not to take it personally. But you can use every rejection to your advantage if you take the right approach. In this post, then, we’ll give you a few tips on how to deal with rejection as a freelance proofreader.

Craft Your Response Carefully

It’s natural to get reactive and emotional upon being rejected. It hurts! However, trust the old saying and don’t burn bridges. Instead:

• Allow yourself time to put your emotions aside.
• That said, don’t keep the client waiting for too long; try to respond within a reasonable timeframe.
• Be polite. Rejection doesn’t mean you’re a bad proofreader! And if you react badly, you could put your reputation on the line.
• Ask to be kept in mind for future jobs.
• Request feedback to help you identify what went wrong.

And don’t forget our best practices regarding requesting client feedback.

Analyze the Rejection (But Don’t Overthink It)

Now that you’re calmer, it’s time to analyze the rejection. Even if you don’t get any feedback, try to understand why you were rejected. Here are a few points to consider:

• Are your rates compatible with the market?
• Was your proposal clear enough?
• Was the proposed deadline reasonable?
• Do your skills really match what the job requested?

Be honest with yourself, but don’t overthink it. Sometimes you just can’t beat someone with lower rates.

Offer Another Service

It’s good to keep in mind that, even if a client rejects one of your services, they might still be interested in a different one. 

For example, if a client rejected you for copy or line editing services, you can make them aware that you also offer proofreading if they need it later on in the editing process.

However, keep a polite tone and don’t be pushy. You want the client to keep you in mind for other services, not reject you for good because they feel pressured. 

Distract Yourself (Productively)

Being rejected can make you lose motivation, we know. But wallowing in it won’t change what happened.

Take your mind off the rejection by doing something else that’s productive (e.g., working on your website or blog, or reaching out to other clients). 

And if you’re too put off to focus on work for the time being, go on a walk, or do some errands or housework – anything to help to get your mind off it.

Focus on the Positive

It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk when rejection comes your way. To stay positive, try to:

• Revisit your past successes and reread positive feedback.
• Be kind to yourself. Don’t punish yourself for something out of your control. Even the most prolific and experienced freelancers have experienced rejection from time to time! Use the experience as an opportunity to grow. What can you do better next time? 
• Keep going! Recognize that rejection is an inevitable part of being a freelancer; allow yourself to feel hurt, but try and move on. Your perfect client could be just around the corner.

Bear in mind that having your work rejected doesn’t mean your freelance proofreading career is a failure; it just means that your proposal didn’t match the client’s needs at that time. 

Becoming A Proofreader

If the prospect of rejection sounds daunting, why not give our Becoming A Proofreader course a try? With a work guarantee for students who pass with a grade of 80% or more, it’s the perfect way to give your proofreading career a boost. Sign up for the free trial to find out more.

Related posts:

How to Ask Clients for Feedback as a Freelance Proofreader Freelance Tips: How to Set Healthy Boundaries as a Freelancer What Is Scope Creep in Proofreading? (And How to Avoid It)