Learning from past experiences is the best way to improve and land the next job. Asking for feedback from a recruiter or interviewer can provide you with valuable information, but it’s not always easy to get a response.
Why Don’t Employers Want to Give Feedback?
According to the 2018 Talent Board North American Candidate Experience Research Report, nearly 70% of candidates received no feedback after being rejected during the screening and interviewing process. Of those who did receive feedback, 77% said it wasn’t useful.
Although there are many reasons for a less than helpful (or altogether missing!) response—like being short on time or not wanting to upset applicants—one of the biggest issues for employers is legal concerns. Attorneys worry that any feedback can be used as the basis for a discrimination lawsuit, so they often advise companies to refrain from providing information.
As a job seeker who wants to learn from their experiences, a lack of response from an employer is discouraging. “It’s only natural after learning you didn’t get the job after an interview to wonder what you could have done differently to bring a different outcome,” says FlexJobs Career Coach Toni Frana.
“Reaching out to the employer thanking them (again) for the interview opportunity and asking a brief question or two for feedback can be very helpful as you continue your job search,” explains Frana.
3 Follow-Up Questions to Ask
While you may be tempted to ask outright why you didn’t get the job, you’ll have better luck if you ask specific questions centered around your performance. Here are some sample questions:
In case there’s a future opportunity with your company, could you offer me one or two pieces of advice for any future applications?
To up your chances of getting a response to your question, make it easy on interviewers. This type of question “switches the focus from a critique of the job applicant’s specific past performance and focuses on general, forward-thinking advice that the employer might be a bit more willing to provide,” explains Brie Reynolds, Career Development Manager and Coach at FlexJobs.
Also, this question is broad enough that you may receive feedback that ranges from concern with a specific answer you gave to nerves that got the best of you or even poor performance on a sample work test.
Do you have any feedback on my resume or cover letter?
A lot of job seekers struggle with writing a strong resume and cover letter. Feedback on these two items could make you a much stronger candidate in your next potential job opportunity. If the recruiter or hiring manager says that your documents contained typos or lacked originality or customization, you’ll have the opportunity to fix them right away before you apply to another job.
Was I missing any relevant skills or experience?
If you think you aced the interview but still didn’t get the job, asking this question may help you figure out if someone with more experience landed the role. The recruiter may explain that you lacked specific skills or years of experience, so think of ways to improve your chances for the next job application. An online class, additional certification, or relevant volunteer experience can help you develop the skills you need.
Moving On
Because employers are so reluctant to give any feedback, Reynolds advises that job seekers not spend too much time trying to get answers. If you didn’t receive an offer and would genuinely appreciate knowing how you could improve, consider sending a short, polite email asking for targeted feedback.
If you don’t hear back, don’t take it personally—just move forward past the job rejection and on to the next exciting opportunity. When you do receive a helpful response, take the advice to heart and use it to land your next job.