Interview rejection - worth asking for feedback?

Meridian · 17 Jul 2006 at 17:04

Reputable companies are used to being asked for feedback, and are quite prepared to give it. If a company is reluctant or unable to give feedback then you may want to reconsider the idea of working for them.

M

Mister_Pister · 18 Jul 2006 at 07:13

FunkyT said:
I don't understand you dude

basically the fact I had asked for feedback convinced the one guy who had said no to me getting the job to change his mind

megakid · 18 Jul 2006 at 08:56

Definately ask for feedback - I even asked for feedback from an application form that I sent to IBM and got rejected (their loss

) before they even spoke to me.

Admiral Huddy · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:00

Cat amongst the pigeons here, I would say no for two reasons:

Firstly, companies are not at liberty to disclose feedback from interviews as such information is confidential to prevent any legal matters arising which the candidate may feel was unfair.

Secondly, you should be able to assess yourself whether you done well or not or the areas which you could have done better. Interviewing and being interviewed is all the preparation. If you didn’t get a job it either that you didn’t have the skills required or they felt that you wouldn’t fit into the team for various reasons. Make sure you learn from the experience.

FunkyT · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:14

Admiral Huddy said:
Cat amongst the pigeons here, I would say no for two reasons:

Firstly, companies are not at liberty to disclose feedback from interviews as such information is confidential to prevent any legal matters arising which the candidate may feel was unfair.

Secondly, you should be able to assess yourself whether you done well or not or the areas which you could have done better. Interviewing and being interviewed is all the preparation. If you didn’t get a job it either that you didn’t have the skills required or they felt that you wouldn’t fit into the team for various reasons. Make sure you learn from the experience.

I was told the successful candidate was a better fit/more suited to the culture of their organisation. It would be interesting to know which of my "behavioural characteristics" weren't suitable... also, surely people can say/do things without realising?

I made the mistake of thinking an "informal 15 minute chat" was what they said. In fact it was 30 minutes of 3 people asking me abstract questions e.g. what irritates you? whilst taking notes

Admiral Huddy · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:33

FunkyT said:
I was told the successful candidate was a better fit/more suited to the culture of their organisation. It would be interesting to know which of my "behavioural characteristics" weren't suitable... also, surely people can say/do things without realising?

I made the mistake of thinking an "informal 15 minute chat" was what they said. In fact it was 30 minutes of 3 people asking me abstract questions e.g. what irritates you? whilst taking notes

If their prerequisites were for a certain character, then this would have been described in the job description when applying or it should have been. If you didn't fit that position beacuse of this, there is nothing you could have done about that.

However, you did admit to making a mistake and that's good because you will learn from that and won't make the same mistake again. The most important thing is that you realised this.

FunkyT · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:37

Admiral Huddy said:
If their prerequisites were for a certain character, then this would have been described in the job description when applying or it should have been. If you didn't fit that position beacuse of this, there is nothing you could have done about that.

However, you did admit to making a mistake and that's good because you will learn from that and won't make the same mistake again. The most important thing is that you realised this.

Thanks. To be honest dude I felt a bit tricked

kitten_caboodle · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:44

I can see what Huddy means, but if I understood your first post correctly they have offered to give you feedback, so the first point isn't really relevant to you.

As for point 2, I would always be impressed if someone asked me why they weren't hired. I was honest and truthful, and constructive and if they came back for another interview for another position, I certainly saw the difference and remembered that they were pro-active and wanted to improve. You dont have to take any notice of the feedback if you think it's unwarranted, but I don't see the big deal - it's not going to hurt to ask the question.

But he's right on the last bit too - it's all in the preparation, and sometimes, someone is just a better 'fit' than you are. Suck it up and move on, they don't deserve you anyway

Admiral Huddy · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:46

FunkyT said:
Thanks. To be honest dude I felt a bit tricked

They usually do make you feel like that.

I got asked once, years ago though, "how do you see yourself and how do others see you"?
:confused:

I can't rememeber my answer.

kitten_caboodle · 18 Jul 2006 at 10:48

Admiral Huddy said:
They usually do make you feel like that.

I got asked once, years ago though, "how do you see yourself and how do others see you"?

I can't rememeber my answer.

'Nekkid' is always a good response to that. Not always a job ensuring one, but a good one nonetheless

FunkyT · 19 Jul 2006 at 11:50

I'm still trying to get hold of the geezer (okay, I've only tried twice). It seems that offering to give feedback and actually doing so are two completely different things :rolleyes:

Dj_Jestar · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:09

Always always always ask for feedback, and if they give the "you were just picked at the post" type reply, ask them to clarify, until you get an answer that satisfies and isn't just waffle. (Either that, or after the 3rd of 4th time they fob you off, realise they are just fobbing you off.)

Scottie2004 · 19 Jul 2006 at 14:00

When it comes down to the 'informal chat' it's basically about who has the best personality amongst the remaining candidates. Truth is, a lot of them will find another way of saying why they didn't hire you rather than just saying that they didn't like you. Hard but true.

FunkyT · 19 Jul 2006 at 14:14

Scottie2004 said:
When it comes down to the 'informal chat' it's basically about who has the best personality amongst the remaining candidates. Truth is, a lot of them will find another way of saying why they didn't hire you rather than just saying that they didn't like you. Hard but true.

Yeah, I think you're right dude.

I can't seem to get hold of him but I've left a message on his voicemail - hopefully he rings back :rolleyes:

crashuk · 19 Jul 2006 at 14:26

FunkyT said:
Yeah, I think you're right dude.

I can't seem to get hold of him but I've left a message on his voicemail - hopefully he rings back

Well if he hasnt then you can do 2 things 1) forget about it or 2) keep ringing to annoy him and make him reply, you will annoy him but have a better chance of finding out th e truth.

FunkyT · 19 Jul 2006 at 14:30

crashuk said:
Well if he hasnt then you can do 2 things 1) forget about it or 2) keep ringing to annoy him and make him reply it you annoy him you have a better chance of finding out th e truth.

2) True - then I get the opportunity to call him a ****

Strange it was him who offered to give feedback :rolleyes:

Admiral Huddy · 19 Jul 2006 at 14:31

Dj_Jestar said:
Always always always ask for feedback, and if they give the "you were just picked at the post" type reply, ask them to clarify, until you get an answer that satisfies and isn't just waffle. (Either that, or after the 3rd of 4th time they fob you off, realise they are just fobbing you off.)

Do you really think that companies really have the time to supply feed back? A lot make it policy not to.. It's not e-bay

crashuk · 19 Jul 2006 at 14:38

Admiral Huddy said:
Do you really think that companies really have the time to supply feed back? A lot make it policy not to.. It's not e-bay

but he offered and i think its rude not to if he took the time to go to the interview, then atleast the guy could spend 5 min on the phone giving him feed back.

If i ask for feed back i wont stop phoning if they say they would give me feed back but they dont, i wont stop phoning ill fill their voice mail untill they do. If they think its rude me phoning and leaving a message then it very rude to not respond to my request of feed back, i took the time to go to the interview.

Admiral Huddy · 19 Jul 2006 at 15:37

crashuk said:
but he offered and i think its rude not to if he took the time to go to the interview, then atleast the guy could spend 5 min on the phone giving him feed back.

If i ask for feed back i wont stop phoning if they say they would give me feed back but they dont, i wont stop phoning ill fill their voice mail untill they do. If they think its rude me phoning and leaving a message then it very rude to not respond to my request of feed back, i took the time to go to the interview.

..they also took the time to interview the candidate. You have to remember that the company has a business to run and this is the nature of interviews. That said however, if they did say they would provide feedback, then they should do so but as I said before, you should have a good idea as to why the interview wasn't successful anyway without having to ask. If you really have no idea, then you should re-think your interview skills.

(when I say you, i don't mean you personally but you as in general

)

FunkyT · 19 Jul 2006 at 15:45

Admiral Huddy said:
..they also took the time to interview the candidate. You have to remember that the company has a business to run and this is the nature of interviews. That said however, if they did say they would provide feedback, then they should do so but as I said before, you should have a good idea as to why the interview wasn't successful anyway without having to ask. If you really have no idea, then you should re-think your interview skills.

(when I say you, i don't mean you personally but you as in general )

Surely if people knew where they'd slipped up they wouldn't be asking for feedback?