Getting feedback after your interview
It’s not unusual to walk out of an interview feeling on top of the world, only to get a call a few days later saying that you haven’t got the job. The trick is to learn from your interview mistakes.
Unexpected rejection can be confusing and quite dispiriting. The best solution – to any form of rejection – is to contact the organisation and get some feedback. If you’re told what went wrong, you might be able to fix it so that you’ll have more luck next time. If you were nervous before your interview, calling the employer after you’ve been rejected may be even more nerve-racking. But it’s definitely a worthwhile thing to do – you have nothing to lose but much to gain. When you ask for feedback, be polite and keep the conversation as brief as possible. Listen carefully to the interviewer’s answers and don’t be tempted to argue if you disagree with any comments. Remember to thank them – both for the interview and for giving you feedback. If the feedback is mostly positive and you’re still interested in the company, let them know, and ask them to keep you in mind for any other vacancies that may arise.
Reasons for rejection
There are countless reasons why you could have been rejected. That doesn’t sound very helpful, but feedback should tell you which ones apply to you. These could include lack of necessary skills or knowledge, a personality not suited to the job or workplace. If it’s a minor lack, you may be able to get the relevant qualifications or experience quite easily. Alternatively, you may discover that you’ve been applying for positions that are too advanced for your level of experience. Perhaps you need to readjust your expectations and apply for a position one rung lower on the career ladder. It’s possible that your interview technique needs some work – perhaps you came across as unfriendly when you were actually just nervous or you didn’t communicate well. If this is the case, try to arrange some practice interviews – with a careers adviser, a tutor or a friend – and make sure you come across well. Your rejection could be due to a simple clash of personalities with the interviewer – but you’re unlikely to be told that directly, and there’s nothing you could have done about it.
Some employers may fob you off with a generic excuse such as ‘another candidate was better qualified’ or ‘you didn’t have enough experience’. If they do, ask them to spell it out – what qualifications or experience should you have had? Then try to find a way to improve the situation. To be honest, sometimes you won’t get any feedback. The interviewer may refuse to talk to you, in which case you just need to move on. It’s possible that you’ll think the reason is unfair or inaccurate. You can’t challenge the interviewer – they’ve already made the decision, whether or not you think it’s right. But don’t just dismiss their comments. Try to think about them objectively, and imagine how they could have come to those conclusions. You may sometimes be pleasantly surprised when you ask for feedback. It’s possible that it was a really close contest, and you were only narrowly beaten. If this is the case, the employer may well keep your details on file and offer to contact you if a suitable position becomes available.
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