Interviews can be challenging, and not all of them turn out as you may want them to. A person has to go through many rejections before eventually ending up with their dream job.
However, there is something to learn from every experience. Instead of feeling dejected about being rejected from a job, you can take this opportunity to learn and grow.
You can ask your interviewers politely why you were rejected. Then based on the reasons, you can work on improving yourself. Employers are also kind enough to provide suggestions and feedback and ask the candidates to try again.
In that case, all is not lost, and you can always return to your dream organization after working on yourself. However, you cannot let yourself feel low or depressed just because you have been rejected. That will only push you down further and your morale will hit rock bottom.
Asking for feedback after a job rejection should be done with care, but you can gain a lot of insight if the recruiters share their observations with you. Take this as a learning opportunity, and you will do better later.
Why is Asking for a Feedback After Job Rejection Important?
Many candidates do not approach their recruiters anymore after they have been rejected from a job. However, reaching out to them and asking for feedback shows that you want to work on yourself, which impresses many recruiters. They also ask the candidates to come back later and try again. Here are some reasons why asking for feedback can be a good thing.
1. To know Your Errors
Interviews can be challenging at the best of times, and some of them can be grueling. You may have made genuine mistakes or committed errors just because you were too nervous and forgot to do or say the right thing.
You might not even realize where you went wrong because you are always focused on the following question rather than contemplating what you just said. Your interviewers will be able to point out these errors, and you can take better care next time to avoid them.
2. To Improve Your Skills
Interviewers are very objective in their approach and will tell you if they feel you are lacking in some skill only if you ask them. You may have a lot of knowledge about your field of work, but adequately articulating it is the key to success.
Suppose you have been rejected from a job because of poor communication skills or because your technical skills needed to be at par with what the position demanded. In that case, you can always go back and work on yourself.
Your recruiters will tell you where you fell behind, and you can concentrate on those areas for better results next time.
3. To Prepare Better
Preparing for an interview is more than knowing to answer the questions correctly. It would be best if you had a plan to prepare, ensuring that you can talk about your theoretical and technical skills with charisma.
To do that, you need a clear roadmap for preparation, especially if you want to apply for a senior position. The feedback can be instrumental in helping you prepare better and work on your overall development.
4. To Know Your Strengths
Getting feedback is not just about coming to know your flaws. It is also about gaining insight into your strengths. Focusing on your strengths will help you bring your best to the table. Work on what works for you and make it even better.
Your interviewers will tell you what they liked about you as well. You might have been entirely unaware of your better qualities, choosing to take them at face value rather than something you can showcase.
The feedback will help you become more confident when you become aware of what you are good at.
5. For a Better Resume
Sometimes, you may face a job rejection after the recruiters have reviewed your resume. They might not have even asked you to come in for an interview.
Although they have to go through hundreds of resumes each day, you can ask them if there is something fundamentally wrong with your resume, especially in cases where you were sure that your resume had everything to make the cut. Your recruiters may tell you what was wrong with the resume.
There may have been too many typing errors, or your resume did not highlight why you were fit for the job description they wanted. Your resume may be too generic, and you need to personalize it more depending on the position you applied for. This will help you create a better resume next time.
When to Ask for Feedback After Rejection?
Once your recruiter has informed you over email that they will no longer proceed with the hiring process, you can wait for about 24 hours before asking for feedback.
Suppose they call you and inform you in person that they will not hire you. In that case, you can ask them immediately for feedback or tell them that you wish to speak to them about feedback and what is the right time to schedule a call.
In most cases, the recruiters will agree to a small Q and A session and tell you where you went wrong. Make sure that you call or email during business hours so as not to inconvenience them.
Points to Remember While Asking for Feedback After Job
Here are some of the things you should consider while asking for feedback after a job.
1. Rejection
Understanding why you didn’t qualify for a job even after preparing well for an interview can help you prepare next time. Asking for feedback will set you on the right track in case you were unwittingly making mistakes during the interview or if you don’t know any better. Here are some points to help you acquire your feedback.
2. Reach Out to the Right Person
Rather than simply reaching out to any person in the HR department of the organization where you had appeared for the interview, please reach out directly to the people who conducted the interview.
If you did your background research well, you might know how to reach the person through the initial contact information you exchanged when the interview was scheduled. Or else, you could call the office and request to speak to the person who conducted your interview.
They will be able to provide you with far more detailed feedback because they talked to you, rather than someone just giving you generic tips on how to do well in interviews. They will tell you exactly what they were looking for and how you can ensure you get there in the subsequent interviews.
3. Choose the Right Time
The period after interviewing in the office can be pretty hectic, so if you want to speak to someone in HR, you have to choose your timing wisely. It is always better to schedule a phone call rather than call the recruiter and ask for their feedback.
Moreover, many applicants need to find out where they went wrong, so your question might also take them by surprise.
However, they might be pleased that you are dedicated, want to do better next time, and might be genuinely interested in helping you out. They might need time to organize their thoughts, so giving them time to prepare would be a great idea.
4. Ask Pertinent Questions
After hearing their overall feedback on what they thought about you, you can ask pertinent questions to pinpoint your shortcomings. Sometimes, the recruiter will tell them to you, and sometimes you may have to ask further questions based on their response.
Ask questions like whether your communication skills were good enough and whether you could put your ideas across properly. Or, you could ask whether your technical knowledge was up to date.
Ask them what steps you can take to do better next time and whether you need to gather more hands-on experience. This will help you make substantial changes to your preparation.
5. Respect their Feedback
If you have asked for feedback from your recruiters, respect what they say and hear them out. Then make changes in your life to accommodate their suggestions so that it will help you grow.
Do not push back or argue when they try to make a point. Make sure you can handle constructive criticism before you ask for it. Even if you disagree with what they have to say, maintain your professional courtesy throughout.
Be thankful they asked you for the interview and took time out of their busy schedule to speak to you and share their views.
6. Ask About Future Opportunities
At the end of the feedback session, leave the door open for further interviews. Ask your recruiter once you have worked on their suggestions, and you can apply again to the organization later. In most cases, they will say yes.
Suppose your dedication and zeal for improvement impress your employer. In that case, they might even contact you later when there is a suitable vacancy.
What Should You Avoid while Asking for Feedback After Job Rejection
Asking for feedback after getting rejected is pretty normal. You should nevertheless ask questions to find out the flaws in yourself that caused the rejection. But you have to be cautious when you ask your interviewer for feedback.
It is natural to feel depressed when you have been rejected after an interview, but you cannot let your emotions get the better of you.
Here are some things to avoid when you speak to your recruiter while asking for their feedback.
- Refrain from sounding bitter or disappointed when you speak to your recruiters. Be professional throughout; no matter how bad you feel, you must not forget your courtesies.
- Do not try to change the recruiter’s mind during the feedback session. Remember that they have already made their decision and the feedback is to help you perform better the next time.
- Do not leave negative comments about the organization on its website or social media pages just because it did not hire you.
- Do not take on an argumentative tone if they say something you disagree with. Take it in your stride and focus on the information you can use later.
- Avoid sounding desperate while asking for feedback. Do not be needy for any other position or make suggestions like you are willing to work for a lower salary. You will only reduce your worth and value as a potential employee in your recruiter’s eyes.
Example of Emails Asking for Feedback After Job Rejection
Ask your recruiter for feedback over email so they can schedule a time for the feedback session. They may either speak over the phone or answer the email. Leave it up to them to decide.
Here are a few templates to ask for feedback after a job rejection. You can customize them according to the position you applied for.
Example 1
Dear Jackson,
Thank you for inviting me for an interview for the position of Deputy Sales Executive in your reputed organization. It was lovely to meet you all and a great learning experience for me.
I was told that the organization has decided to go ahead with someone else, and I respect that decision. However, I was wondering if I could have a few minutes of your time and if you could tell me about how I could improve.
I am keen on doing better, and I want to learn about ways to improve myself. Since you spoke to me, your feedback and suggestions would be of utmost importance.
I want to work on myself and then apply again for the position when there is another vacancy.
It would be most kind of you to let me know if you could spare a few minutes to talk to me and schedule a call.
Thank you and regards
(Your name)
Contact:
Example 2
Dear Martha,
I hope you are well.
Thank you so much for inviting me to the interview for the position of Graphic Designer at your reputed organization.
I was notified by HR that you would not be going ahead with the hiring process with me anymore. I respect that decision and completely understand.
However, I am working on improving myself, and I would like feedback from you to understand where I went wrong and if I could improve something
It would be most helpful if you could spare me a few minutes and tell me how to improve myself. It would be great if you could spare me a few minutes and tell me how I can do better. Kindly schedule a call at your convenience; it would mean a lot to me.
Thank you and regards
(Your name)
Contact:
Example 3
Dear Matthew,
Thank you for inviting me to the interview for the position of Accounts Manager at your esteemed organization.
I loved interacting with the panel, and I came to learn so much from the interaction. I was told, however, that the company has decided to move forward with someone else. I respect the decision and think it is for the best.
However, I also want to improve my performance in the subsequent interviews. I would apply to your company some time in the future. To do that, I would like some insight on how I could improve my performance, and it would be most helpful if you could spare me a few minutes and share your feedback.
You can schedule a call at your convenience or email me. Your insight will help me immensely and inspire me to do better.
Thank you and regards
(Your name)
Contact:
Conclusion
It is best not to worry about the consequences of an interview when you are in the middle of the hiring process. Added stress can often take an invisible toll and make you perform poorly at the interview.
However, in the event that you are rejected, try to treat the process as a learning experience. You will learn valuable tips from your employer about performing better next time, and you might even land a bigger job later.
Asking for feedback and taking actionable measures to improve yourself will help you grow as an individual, and this will reflect in your professional career. So go ahead and ask for feedback, and you will surely reach your destination one day.
