Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
is it ok to ask interviewers for feedback
on why you were not chosen for the position?
I've been turned down for two positions recently - one was clear cut. She said I was not a personality match for the manager. I actually got that in the interview so that wasn't a big shock.
The second position I was turned down for actually surprised me because in the interview, the manager kept saying over and over again that I was qualified for the position, had qualifications that he didn't even think about but would be great for the position, etc etc etc. It was a great interview then all communication ended and I received a letter in the mail saying thanks but no thanks. Now I am 90% sure the position is re-posted (it was a blind craig's list ad and the new ad is a bit different but the chances that two positions in my town this close in description is unlikely). And the ad has listed the first set of qualifications plus those he saw in me that he hadn't thought of before. I'm wondering if it came down to what I said my past salary was per hour.
Is it OK to call the manager back tomorrow and ask for feedback on why he turned me down then ask if it is the same position posted again or should I just apply for the position and not bother calling him?
Thanks for your advice.
Re: is it ok to ask interviewers for feedback
I totally agree with pp. It never hurts to ask. If I'm looking for feedback, I might ask when they call to tell me I didn't get the position or what could I do to improve for next time. I don't seek out feedback otherwise. Also do not be surprised if they give you a really vague reason, or outright lie to you.
I've asked for feedback and I had a company tell me I didn't have the experience they were looking for, but I was over qualified for the position. They hired a girl who had less education and was willing to work more hours for less pay.
I agree with this. The times that I interviewed and didn't get the job I basically had a general idea as of why. I have also been in the position where the person doing the interview told me I was 'great' for the position and basically hired, but in the end it was not really their decision to make.
You may also want to consider the fact that you were great for the position - but someone else was better or someone else... asked for less money or asked for a salary more in line with what they wanted to pay.
You'd think they wouldn't interview you if you asked for more than they were willing to pay, but I once interviewed for a job that required you put in your salary requirements - only to find out their top offer was 10k less than my low number.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you do call, I'd be interested in hearing their feedback.
This. I have had interviewees ask me at the end of the interview if there is any reason I wouldn't hire them and it really puts me off to them. The ones that have called and asked...I typically give a very basic qualifications response vs the truth. You can't tell someone they are not a good fit for a number of reasons.
That used to be a given in the past: you'd be told why you did not get the job.
If you've been looking for awhile and have gotten nothing but rejections or dead silence from the company after you interviewed with them, certainly you'll want to know why you didn't get the job. And no doubt you'll call the companies and ask them why you didn't get the job.
A place I called today --- to see if they got my resume -- told me that they just withdrew the position. This, after they ran 3 ads for the job. Go figure.
Maybe it isn't you ...maybe the job was shelved, withdrawn, they decided they will not hire anybody (a boss of mine did this after she put 2 interviewees through a second interview) , the company just announced a hiring freeze or for some unknown reason, the boss decided not to interview anybody (this happened at a couple of places where I worked)