You got through the interview, waited a week, and then the email arrived: “Thanks for your time, we’ve decided to go with another candidate.” It stings, and the obvious next question is why.
Knowing how to ask for feedback after an interview won’t change the decision. It can change the next one, though, and it tells the employer something about you as well.
An employer doesn’t have to give you feedback
It’s worth knowing this before you ask. Acas says employers don’t have to explain why they turned down an application, and they don’t have to tell you how you could have done better at interview.
Plenty will tell you anyway. Some keep it short because they’re busy, and some are careful about what they put in writing. A vague answer isn’t always a brush-off. Go in expecting a few lines, and anything more is a bonus.
Ask quickly, and keep it short
The best time to ask is within a day or two of hearing back. The interview is still fresh for them, and they haven’t moved on to the next role.
Keep the message brief. Thank them for their time, say you’re disappointed but you appreciate hearing back, and ask whether they’d share anything that would help with future interviews. That’s it. One or two lines is plenty.
A phone call can get you more than an email, because people are often more open when they’re talking than when they’re writing. If you do call, ask whether it’s a good time first. Don’t argue with anything they say.
Ask questions they can actually answer
“Why didn’t I get it?” puts the interviewer on the spot. Something narrower is easier to answer honestly.
You could ask whether there was a part of the role where the successful candidate had more experience. You could ask whether any of your answers didn’t land, or whether there’s something you’d do well to strengthen before your next interview. Questions like these give the person something to work with, and you’re far more likely to get a real answer.
Going through a recruiter? Ask them
If a recruiter put you forward, they’re usually the best person to go to. They’ll often hear the real reasons from the hiring manager, and they can pass on detail that a company might not put in an email.
A good recruiter will also tell you straight whether the gap was something you can fix, like interview technique, or something you can’t, like one candidate having slightly more of the experience the role asked for. Both are useful to know.
Take it on the chin, even when it stings
Whatever comes back, thank them. You don’t have to agree with it.
Some feedback will be fair and some won’t. “Not quite the right fit” can feel like no answer at all, but it’s sometimes the truth. Another candidate just edged it, and there wasn’t much in it. If that’s what you hear, take it as a close call rather than a failure.
How you respond matters too. Hiring managers remember the candidate who took a no well, and roles come up again. A polite reply keeps that door open.
If something doesn’t feel right
Most rejections are just someone else getting the job. Occasionally, though, a candidate has reason to think something else was going on.
Job applicants are protected by the Equality Act 2010. Acas says that if you believe an employer discriminated against you, or didn’t apply its own rules consistently, you can ask it to reconsider. You also have the right to ask for a copy of the personal information a company holds about you. The Information Commissioner’s Office’s draft guidance says that can include interview notes, and employers normally have a month to respond. Most people will never need this, but it’s worth knowing it’s there.
Turn the feedback into your next application
Feedback is only useful if you do something with it. Write down what you were told while it’s fresh, and look for patterns across more than one interview. If two employers say your examples were too general, that’s something to work on.
Then practise the answer you’d give now. If you’re already through to later rounds elsewhere, preparing for a second interview is a good place to put it to use.
Final Thoughts
A rejection hurts, but it’s rarely the end of the road. Asking for feedback after an interview takes a couple of minutes, costs you nothing, and can show you exactly what to change next time.
If you’re thinking about your next career move and want someone in your corner for the next round, get in touch with Recruiting Talent.