Feedback is important if you don’t get the job. But teasing it out of employers can be hard.
Why do employers do this? In part, it can be because the truth may hurt or knock a candidate’s confidence and it is human nature to avoid hurting others. On the other hand, you need to know more than there were more suitable candidates or you weren’t the right cultural fit.
Some employers may also worry about being too specific because of legal concerns or fears that the candidate will post their comments on social media, says Eliza Kirkby, regional director at Hays.
Employers also worry that you might become argumentative, says Kirkby. Or there may be circumstances beyond your control such as timing, budgets, altered circumstances or changing needs of the employer.
In most instances, there really was someone more suitable for the role and this could come down to several things including:
There could also be some less obvious reasons why you didn’t get the job, says Kirkby. Perhaps:
Whatever it is, it’s best to get in contact with the recruiter or employer as soon as you’re notified that you were unsuccessful, says Kirkby. Thank them for their time, she says, then ask them politely if they would mind giving you a bit more detailed feedback that might help you in your future job search. Never become argumentative, or the person you’re speaking to is likely to shut down.
You could specifically ask if they felt there were any skill or capability gaps for the role you applied for, says Kirkby.
You could specifically ask if they felt there were any skill or capability gaps for the role you applied for, says Kirkby.
Other good questions to ask include:
If you do not get through to the employer when you telephone, one well-structured email with a few choice questions can help garner a constructive response, says Kirby. But don’t bombard the employer with messages.
One telephone message and one follow-up email is enough. “If they’re going to respond they will,” she says.
Whatever you do, use this as a learning experience to give yourself the best chance of doing better next time.