Barbara Corcoran: I sent this email to get on ‘Shark Tank’—after they’d ‘already chosen someone else’

From there, she walked Burnett through her character, work ethic and leadership style. She wrote about teachers who dismissed her because she struggled to read, battling dyslexia. She mentioned an ex-partner who swore she wouldn’t be successful without him, and wrote that “everything I’ve done in business so far” had prepared her for this moment.

Instead of declaring that Burnett should choose her over the other candidate, she suggested that he fly both of them out to Los Angeles and compare them against each other.

“If you have both ladies in LA, you can mix it up a bit and see which personalities make the best combination for your show,” she wrote. “I’ve found in building teams myself that the combination of personalities is always more important than the expertise or strengths of single individuals.”

She closed her email with confidence, writing that “the reputation you have in your field is equal to the reputation I have in mind, Mark. I know you’re the best at what you do and I trust you’ll reach the right decision. I’ve booked my flight for the 6th and hope to be on that plane.”

Sending that email ultimately got Corcoran the role, she wrote in her LinkedIn post: “Sometimes the door won’t open until you knock louder.”

Not taking rejection personally is a skill that takes time and self-awareness. The next time you’re facing a rejection, you can take a page out of Corcoran’s book, further explaining your qualifications and continued interest in the role. Or you can use it as an opportunity to build your network, Jolen Anderson, chief people and community officer at BetterUp, told CNBC Make It on April 15.

Say you’ve done a couple of interviews for a role and ultimately didn’t get it. In your “thank you” email to the recruiter or hiring manager, add a sentence along the lines of, “I’m sorry that my skills didn’t align with this particular role. Are there other opportunities at the company that you think might be a match for me or other people in your network you think you can introduce me to?” Anderson recommended.

Worst-case scenario: They don’t respond, and you continue on with your search. Meanwhile, you’ve shown some good sportsmanship, and you might stay top-of-mind for a hiring manager who spent days getting to know you, your background and capabilities.

It’s the “best thing that a candidate can do,” said Anderson.

Barbara Corcoran—real estate icon and star of ABC’s Shark Tank—is a master of turning grit into greatness. As the founder of The Corcoran Group, she built one of the most successful real estate empires in the country and now shares her no-nonsense business insights with audiences worldwide. To bring Barbara’s signature energy and expertise to your next event, contact WWSG.