How to Get Feedback When You're Rejected

Job rejection etiquette

Recently interviewed and had thought I was a perfect fit. Your advice on the next step is very helpful to me... I am still interested in the position and would like to maintain a professional relationship with the hiring manager. Keep up the good work, we all need some guidance sometime.

Anonymous of WA @ Aug 20, 2009 12:51:40 PM

Asking for feedback

I've always received some canned response from recruiters, HR, whomever. They've never given me any honest feedback. Generally speaking, unless you get really lucky, I wouldn't expect a response.

If I was applying for this job through a connection via networking, then perhaps asking your friend for information might help. They might be more candid via that direction. I applied at one company through a friend, and he got some feedback from them and simply forwarded it directly to me.

Michael of CA @ Jul 07, 2009 12:28:12 PM

I regret I wasted time

I keep getting fishy reasons for rejection. Once, I got rejected after a series of interviews when they were about to make an offer. I asked for a reason and it was I didn't have the skills they needed. Another explanation from another company - I got rejected after an interview because other candidates had more experience. They put another ad they hiring for this position just the same day I got this explanation. It looks like they're reading from the same internet source, which says to never explain the real reason.

of CA @ Oct 28, 2008 19:07:32 PM

not useful

It's an ambitious idea and may work in the ideal world. Most certainly will not work in the real world. I tried it. Once through a recruiter; once through the HR. In both place, the bottom line was: not the best fit. But so realistist or objective feedback as to where I under or overplayed; how I need to develop me for the next opportunity.

It may be a good thing for the fresh graduates, but not so useful for experienced individuals.

dg of PA @ Oct 23, 2008 22:18:07 PM

Assuming you are given the rejection

I have never seen the rejection note.

You have a generic hr@ email address, a first name only of the HR staffer in the interview and no contact ever after the interview

Elliot Ross @ Oct 21, 2008 16:36:55 PM

It's all in how you ask

I like your advice about the tone of "voice" when you ask. A job seeker has to be sincere in wanting to know what went wrong. Otherwise, the manager will detect defensiveness and will likely not respond.

Alison, I think you're an exceptional manager the way you take time to help job seekers, even if it's not to your immediate benefit. That's to be admired!

Susan Ireland of CA @ Oct 21, 2008 11:10:14 AM

Re: Asking for feedback

I guess it's worth asking for when you actually get feedback. I've had interviewers tell me to "check out [my] college career center if [I] wanted feedback," implying in a way that it isn't their position or in their interest to do so (which frankly, I know it really isn't). If I was motivated enough to ask them directly and politely for their personal opinion, don't you think I would've exhausted all other resources prior to asking? Maybe that's a bit of a stretch for someone to assume...

Camille of VA @ Oct 21, 2008 09:47:33 AM