<p>Experiences of and reactions to work-related rejection, referred to as “professional rejection,” have not been thoroughly explored in the industrial-organizational psychology literature, yet the outcomes may have important implications for how individuals progress in their careers. Job seekers are uniquely faced with repeated professional rejections, which may exacerbate the already difficult circumstances of unemployment and lead to increased stress. Drawing from affective events theory, the current study surveyed unemployed job seekers in the United States at three time points to gain a better understanding of their reactions to professional rejection, dispositional and identity-related traits that may influence these reactions, and how these experiences may impact their career trajectories. Professional rejection sensitivity, which is an individual’s propensity to react negatively to work-related rejection experiences, was examined as a moderator in the relationship between job rejection and a subsequent stress response. Work centrality was examined as a moderator in the relationship between stress and perseverance on one’s chosen career path post-rejection, with the expectation that greater importance of one’s work identity to their self-view would make them more likely to persevere. The data was analyzed using linear and logistic regression analyses in R. Although none of the hypotheses were fully supported, initial results provide insight into how future research may better explore these phenomena and contribute to an emerging stream of research related to professional rejection.</p>