Asking For Interview Feedback: Why You Should it and How to Do it
This article was first published on the Adria Careers Blog as “7 Ways to Ask for Interview Feedback and Why You Should”
Rejection when applying for a position can be a necessary learning experience. This guide explores why and how you should ask for interview feedback.
Sadly, only 30–40% of interviewees are likely to receive a job offer for a position. That can be disheartening, particularly when some companies have as many as nine stages for interviews. After enduring such a lengthy process for a job interview, receiving a ‘no thankyou’ can be quite a blow.
But that’s precisely why it’s so important to request interview feedback if you didn’t get the job.
Why You Should Ask For Interview Feedback
Getting inside the interviewer’s head can help you in your future job search and ensure that you focus on developing the right interviewing skills.
After a job interview, you might have a feeling that you answered particular questions well and others not so great. However, the interviewer could have a completely different view of your meeting. Gaining this kind of constructive feedback will allow you to improve in key areas. Such valuable insight can, therefore, provide significant benefits for future interviews.
There are other reasons why you should request information on your interview performance. For instance, a company may plan to keep your information on file for future positions. Requesting feedback confirms your continued interest in working with that company and your willingness to improve.
Now that you understand the key benefits, let’s explore the many ways in which you should ask for interview feedback.
7 Ways to Ask For Interview Feedback
On The Phone
Your first thought might be to send an email to a company to request feedback. However, you must remember that hiring managers are likely to be busy, and you won’t be the only individual requesting feedback. An email can easily be lost, ignored or forgotten. A phone call is more valuable because it enables you to speak to someone directly. If you can’t get through to the right person, start by sending an email, but then be sure to follow up with a phone call.
At The Right Time
You should aim to request interview feedback no more or less than one day after receiving a rejection. Don’t ask for feedback immediately because this can make you look desperate or in a panic. At the same time, leaving it too long makes it more likely that the hiring manager will dismiss your response.
Tenaciously
Typically, you won’t receive feedback instantly or even within the first 24 hours. If you don’t hear back five days after the initial contact, you can make a second request. If you receive no response a second time, you may want to explore other options.
For instance, you can apply for future jobs through a professional recruitment agency. Recruitment consultants will contact the company for you and get the feedback you need. An experienced consultant who already has a well-established relationship with the company is far more likely to receive feedback than you going it alone.
Politely
When contacting the hiring manager, make sure that you are polite and express gratitude. You need to thank them for their time and remind them that you are genuinely interested in learning what went wrong while also expressing that you are keen to continue exploring further opportunities for professional development.
Preparedly
You may pass through several rounds of an interview process. In this case, you will probably have answered multitudes of interview questions. Before requesting feedback, note down the critical questions where you feel you stumbled or had issues.
With Humility
Remember, obtaining constructive criticism isn’t about arguing that you should have received a job offer. Instead, the aim here is to improve your position when you submit a future job application.
You need to come across as a professional who is simply keen to seek advice from an expert in the industry. This is a valuable trait in a prospective employee and will likely work in your favour.
Gratefully
It doesn’t matter whether you are contacting a hiring manager by email or phone. Your final point should be thanking the hiring manager for the opportunity to interview and their support. Leaving a positive impression makes it far more likely that the company will contact you regarding future positions.
A Few Final Thoughts on the Many Ways to Ask For Interview Feedback and Why You Should
We hope this helps you understand how to ask for feedback on your job rejection. Doing so can offer valuable insight into why you received a rejection email. Of course, this may seem to many like a nerve-wracking scenario. However, it can help you improve your interview technique enormously and gain the upper hand when applying for future positions.
Don’t forget, if you don’t get a response from a hiring manager, there are other ways you can make the necessary improvements. For instance, you might want to speak to a recruitment consultant for their constructive criticism.
