How To Ask For Feedback After A Job Rejection
As a job candidate, asking for feedback requires humility and the zeal to learn from others, especially in a professional environment. Getting a job rejection email or response after a promising interview can be disappointing and heartbreaking but on the flip side, it provides a unique opportunity to improve your interviewing skills and expand your professional network.
The following are tips on how to ask for feedback after a job rejection
- Thank the interviewer: After reading the rejection mail or message, While responding to the rejection email or phone call, start by thanking the interviewer for the time he/she spent to review your application and interview you. This is the easiest way to build the professional relationship that was established during the interview process.
The following is a guide to use when thanking the interviewer
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- Thank the hiring manager for letting you know their decision.
- Express your gratitude for their time and consideration. You can directly mention a contact you’ve had with them, like a phone or in-person interview.
- Tell them you appreciate the opportunity to learn about the company. You can also mention that you enjoyed the chance to meet certain people who work there.
- Be polite: It is important for a job recruiter to send you feedback after a rejection, but if he/she has not been able to reach out to you because of his/her busy schedule, do not throw caution to the wind by disturbing them unnecessarily. Being polite can increase your chances of receiving a thoughtful response.
- Explain your motivation: As a job candidate, When you are reaching out to a job recruiter after a rejection, do not forget to let him or her know why you are reaching out and explain that you are continuously looking for opportunities to learn and that you would appreciate feedback on your interview.
- Request advice: As a job candidate, when asking for feedback from the interviewer, do not demand a reply, be polite while requesting feedback because what you say and how you say it can either make the interviewer give you a listening ear or not. Asking politely for advice makes the interviewer feel more comfortable.
- Show appreciation: A good way to get to the heart of your Interviewer is by showing appreciation. People love to be appreciated. At the end of your request for feedback, show appreciation for the interviewer’s expertise and knowledge. Let your recruiter know how he/she made you feel comfortable during the interview. This will help to build a healthy relationship between you and the interviewer and he/she may keep you updated on any job vacancy.
- Express your disappointment: Truth is, every job candidate dislikes getting a rejection response after an interview. As a job candidate, after you receive rejection mail, while you thank the interviewer for the interview, do not forget to let the interviewer know that you are disappointed to hear that you were not given the job. Expressing your disappointment can help demonstrate your genuine interest in the position and company.
- Show interest: Getting a rejection message from an interviewer is not the end of the road. You can still get your dream job in the company if you do not stop communicating with the interviewer. Let the hiring manager know that you are still interested in working for their company. If you do not show interest, the hiring manager might assume that you are not interested to work in the company.
- Ask for feedback: Asking for feedback after getting rejected is vital in your next interview. You can only ace your next interview if you know how you performed at the previous one.
The following are how to ask for feedback via phone, email, and in-person.
Asking for Feedback Over the Phone
A rejection response can either come via a phone call, an email or in person.
When it comes through a phone call and you want to know why you were not chosen, you can do the following:
- Start by thanking them for following up with you.
- Politely ask them to mention specific moments that dampened their enthusiasm for you as a candidate.
- Ask how you can remedy that situation in future interviews.
- Listen carefully to what the interviewer or recruiter says and be prepared to take notes while on the call.
- Before ending the call, inform the recruiter that you are available by phone in case there are other suitable roles that may work out better in the future.
- At the end of the call, end with a positive comment and thank them again for their time.
Examples of phone feedback requests
Here are some examples of how to request feedback over the phone:
“Thank you for responding so quickly. I understand that l was not the right fit for the position, but I was hoping you could give me some feedback to help me improve.”
“Thank you for the quick response. I know I was not the perfect candidate for this role, but do you have any suggestions on what I can work on moving forward?”
Asking for Feedback Through Email
The most common format for rejection is via email. As a job candidate, when you are asking for feedback through email, you need to include all the elements you would for a request via phone, but you also need to pay attention to the format of the email.
For example:
- Your first paragraph should be a simple thank you for the information on the decision.
- Your second paragraph should indicate your disappointment at not getting the job. It should also indicate that you are grateful for the interview.
- The third paragraph should contain your request for feedback, as politely and concisely as possible.
- In the final paragraph, you thank the manager or recruiter once more and indicate your interest to work in the organization in the future.
Examples of an email feedback request
Here is an example of how to ask for feedback after rejection via email:
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
Thank you for informing me of your decision on this position.
I feel disappointed that l will not be working with the [company name] team, but l had a wonderful time speaking with you and your team.
If you have time in the near future, I would be very grateful to know how I can improve my application and interview skills for future opportunities. If you are not too busy, l will like you to provide me with some feedback. The feedback will help me to ace my next job interview.
Thanks again for the opportunity. I have high hopes for [company name]’s continued success and I wish you all success going forward. If another role with a better fit opens up, do not forget to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Asking for Feedback in Person
Asking for feedback in person is not something that you will often have the chance to do. Most recruiters or interviewers are not going to call in a candidate just to reject him/her unless they feel there is a chance their number one candidate might not work out.
If it is your desire to have in-person feedback, book an appointment with the person in question rather than putting them on the spot and causing them discomfort. If your request is granted, do not forget to thank him/her and politely request feedback.
Why You Should Ask For Feedback After Getting Rejected
As a job candidate, it is important that you request feedback after getting rejected.
The following are reasons why you should request feedback after getting rejected:
- Learn from your mistakes: As a job candidate, asking for feedback helps you to correct the mistakes you made in your previous interview to avoid making them in the subsequent interviews. There are a number of reasons why you may be rejected, and identifying them becomes very important after participating in an interview.
- Learn more about yourself: The scariest part of asking for feedback is that you might discover some character flaws about yourself. Your family, friends, and even mentors might not be willing to tell you about your less charming habits and behaviors, while a recruiter or hiring manager will not mince words when giving you feedback.
- Growth: Requesting feedback after a rejection shows you really are committed to finding new opportunities for self-improvement in your career.
- Future opportunities: After getting a rejection response from the recruiter, remember to keep the communication line open for future opportunities. Just because a door is closed right now does not mean it will remain closed forever. Always stay in touch with the recruiter.
- Receive Closure: As a job candidate, if you decide not to ask for feedback after getting rejected, you may end up leaving valuable information on the table. Asking for feedback is a key way of assuring yourself that you have done your best throughout the process.
The Importance Of Asking For A Feedback After Getting Rejected
There are several benefits attached to requesting feedback after an interview, ranging from developing self-awareness to creating opportunities for the future.
The importance of asking for feedback after an interview includes:
- Personal development: As a job candidate, requesting feedback after an interview can show you the areas of your application that were not successful and what you could do to improve.
- Gaining insight: Requesting feedback from a recruiter or hiring manager after getting a rejection gives you an opportunity to discover what the recruiter or interviewer was looking for and why you were not hired.
- Understanding competitors: When receiving feedback, you will know why a certain job candidate was hired and why you were not hired. When you know why you were not hired, it is advisable to go back to your drawing board and map out the skills you need to learn or courses that you need to take that will increase your chances of getting a job in the future.
- Creating opportunities: If you were ranking high for a position at a company but did not get the job, there is a chance that another position could suit you better in the future. By connecting with a hiring manager even after being rejected for a position, you are showing that you have a growth mindset and an interest in the company.
- Expanding your network: As a job candidate, when you connect with the interviewer after being rejected, you can expand your professional network and be exposed to other job opportunities. The interviewer will likely be familiar with various positions in their field and may also recommend other companies or positions to you.
In conclusion, quite a number of job candidates have experienced rejection which can be discouraging. However, after receiving a job rejection, it is important that you request feedback from the interviewer to avoid making the same mistake in the future.
