How do you get over not getting a job?

I'm sorry that didn't work out for you. Hopefully it means there's an even better opportunity on the horizon and another position will open up.

It's disappointing but often, with the passing of time, you come to the conclusion that it wouldn't have been the best job for you anyway, whether it's a team dynamic, work/life balance thing or abetted opportunity arising at a later date.

If you really want more info, I think it would be appropriate to talk to the hiring manager. DON'T say "why didn't I get the job?". But you could say, "Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the XX position. Do you have any suggestions of some development goals I could work on so that if another position comes open in the future, I'm more prepared?" or something to that effect.

I'm sorry you didn't get the new position. I know it must really be discouraging. I would try my best to just be kind to the person who did receive the position. When I worked at a university, a position opened up in my department. It meant a promotion in salary, as well as some other perks. I knew that a friend was applying. I went out of my way and asked if he would mind if I applied. I just didn't want to create hurt feelings. He said no problem. I applied and got the job. He was really pissed, and pretty much stopped being my friend.

He applied for 2 similar positions and didn't get those either. He had no excuse to treat me like crap. It wasn't my fault that he didn't get the position.

Keep doing what you are doing and do your best at it. Nobody knows what the future holds. I was in a similar position 4 years ago. I was a teacher's aid and applied for an administrative assistant position. I didn't get the job. The person hired had more accounting experience and excel experience. Six months after she started, it wasn't working out. I could tell there were problems so I would go home and get on Microsoft's website and taught myself Excel the quickest and best I could. I have been the administrative assistant now for 4 years. Funny how things work out sometimes.

I'm in a similar situation right now.  Two positions in my department were open - my good friend was applying, and she really encouraged me to apply as well.  Everyone (including me and my friend) thought she was a shoe-in for one of the positions, and I thought I had slim shot at the other. Our thinking was that we work well together and would be able to get a lot done.  Before I applied, we talked a lot about the fact that I would be fine with not getting one of the positions and and I didn't want it to be weird between us if she got one of the positions and I didn't.

I got one of the positions and she didn't.  It's been a few weeks now, and she has been sullen and grumpy at work and has completely given me the cold shoulder.  I know it stings and that she's disappointed and embarrassed (she made a big deal out of applying for the position at work and all over Facebook), but it is not my 'fault' that she didn't get the job - it was even her idea that I apply. 

I can tell you that her reaction has been noticed by many more people than just me... definitely keep doing your best and good things will come.  I saw a similar situation recently, but the person who was passed over worked hard at helping the person who got the job be successful.  He ended up getting an even better job in a location that was much better for him and for more money.  I really think his professionalism is what made the difference and helped him ultimately be even more successful

Happened to me - applied for a middle school choir position last spring and didn't get it. I was really upset. I mean really. And it's awkward because my daughter will be attending this school and will be in the choir, first with the person who got the job instead of me and then the person who didn't hire me. Awkward.

Ultimately I had to get over it because I refuse to let my feelings poison what should be a wonderful experience for my kid. I've thrown myself back into my current job and am determined to work harder and do a better job than ever.

Can you find a way to make your current job better/more interesting? Ask for additional responsibilities? Create a new project for yourself? Make something better? I think a distraction and renewed interest in the current job will help. And maybe this is your cue to look somewhere else for a job.

Not specific to job hunting but when things happen in life that seem perfect and just right but they don't work out I have usually some pain or disappointment at first and than if I am still struggling I try to remember that it was meant to be it would have work out. Usually something happens on down the road that is better and I end up grateful that what I wanted didn't work out. Trials like that help me when the next one rolls around. 

a couple of years ago, i applied for a job and a co-worker, who had been there less time and was frankly not as good as i am, applied for the same job. everyone thought i would get it. she got the job. i was devastated. i thought i was trash after that. but in the end it was because my supervisors thought another job was around the corner and they wanted me for that one. (it didn't end up coming and i ended up getting the original job after the other chick moved, but.) sometimes there are reasons that you don't know that make sense in the end.

though they should have just given it to me in the first place.