Asking for feedback after an interview - yes/no?

Emerald Lass

Just want people's opinions out there - partic anyone who does the hiring/firing/interviewing.

My mate just went for an interview last week. It went really well by all accounts. They said they would get back to her today.

Well unfortunately they got back to her by email -not a good sign. Basically the email was a personal email to her (i.e not a standard generic response). It said that she did an excellent interview and that her experience was quote "second to none". they were very impressed with the presentation she gave. Mentioned some other things she said/did that impressed them. However they have decided to go with another candidate on a 2 week trial. if things don't work out with said candidate they would then contact her.

Now, as you would expect she is wondering what she could have done better in the interview. In the past she said she would have politely contacted the HR dept for some feedback on her interview so she could address areas of weakness. She would love to know where she went wrong in this one - particularly as she was obviously very strong in some areas. If she knew where she went wrong she could hopefully avoid that for future interviews.

But this interview wasn't conducted by HR, but by the direct manager, and there is no 'HR' dept as such. She is not sure whether to ask for feedback or not. She is afraid to look like she is accusing them - as in what did I do wrong? you said yourself I was good so why didn't you give me the job?!
thats not what she is asking but she doesn't want it to come across that way, but she would like to know how she can improve. She also does not want to come across in the wrong way, as should the new guy not work out, then she may still have a shot.

In the current market would you ask for feedback? if so how would you word it to them? she asked for my advice and I am really not sure. Feedback may help her prepare better for another interview, but if she words it wrong it could backfire!

What do others think?

(BTW she thinks it might be because the other guy was cheaper - the salary wasn't specified so they asked each candidate what they were looking. he may have come in at €1k less or whatever. But I reckon if they wanted to hire her, but wanted to pay less they would offer her the job at a lower salary, rather than choose someone else they liked less)

anyway, whats the general consensus?

cronos

He could just have hired a friend of a friend as a favour and if it does not work out then they would hire the proper person. I wouldnt ask in this case cause they might end up looking you up in 2 weeks.

Manach

Yes, ask for the feedback. I've done this myself on similar occasions. Couch the request in polite terms, saying this type of feedback will be useful for future interviews.

480905

AFAIK ,under the FOI act, if they take notes during an interview you are entitled to see those notes as they are pertaining to you. In the Civil service,an applicant is entitled to review his/her interview notes if they are unsuccessful in an interview.

Keith in cork

personally, if someone replied to me via email after an interview, i'd print their reply, go to meet them, and gently stuff it up their nostrel, with my boot:mad:

Asking for feedback is perfectly acceptable, and if put across in the same manner as you posted it, it'd be looked upon as constructive.

Why she'd bother, after their snubb, i don't know

Ellechim

I would ask for feedback.

I would say thank you for what they have already told her and then say 'given that although I performed well but haven't been offered the role I'd really appreciate any tips on improving my interview performance next time and I'd be especially interested in what skills or evidence the other candidate provided which secured him the 2 week trial'.

The market is mega competitive out there at the moment and the fact your friend got such good feedback already is a great testament.

I woudl not be sarky at all about it because if this guy doesn't work out or if another role comes up and she keeps the relationship sweet they will have kept the door open for her.

That's if she wants the job.

As for salary - if she was absolutely the right person for the job they would have offered her the job at the lower salary, that wouldn't have stood against her....

bridge

why not ask.it shows assertiveness

SerialComplaint

480905 wrote: »

AFAIK ,under the FOI act, if they take notes during an interview you are entitled to see those notes as they are pertaining to you. In the Civil service,an applicant is entitled to review his/her interview notes if they are unsuccessful in an interview.

FOI Act only applies to public bodies. You might be thinking of Data Protection Acts.

But anyway, the notes will be fairly meaningless. Best to just make a call/email seeking feedback to help with future interviews. They might not be keen on giving feedback in writing/email, so suggest that they phone you.

jaybee747

A quick email back requesting a little feedback is no harm, once its worded well, all your requesting is some feedback to better improve your interview techniques/skills.Ask him is there something in his opinion you could have done better but remember it is only his opinion.

Emerald Lass

Hi Guys,

thanks for all the replies. Most of you are of the same opinion as me - ask, but in a nice way etc.

On my encouragement, she sent the email before most of your replies, so I am relieved to see that others agree and I didn't give her daft advice!

She replied to the email, saying (I'm paraphrasing here)
thank you for the opportunity to interview, and if the candidate on trial does not work out she would be very happy to re-interview, blah blah, and she politely asked if they had the time she would appreciate any feedback they could offer so that she can improve her interview skills for future reference. She said that it would be useful for her to know what areas they felt she was weaker than the other candidate so that she can build and improve on those areas.

I think that's fair enough? don't you?

As for the poster who asked why she would want to work for them - well its a simple answer, she needs a job to keep a roof over her head and in this climate its an employers market.

I am currently on a 6 mth contract - 2 mths in. I am already looking for something for the end of the 6 mths, because it is taking people so long to find anything. My contract may be extended, but I'm not taking any chances. I am frustrated with some of the replies I got from agencies etc regarding my CV, and I'm lucky enough to have some work for now, so I can totally understand how frustrating it is for those not working.

To be told you were great and get positive feedback and then be told 'but you didn't get it anyway!' - so annoying and I feel for her! And I am dreading being back job seeking myself now!

And I also agree, sending an answer by email is a bit of a snubb. No one likes giving bad news but thats part of being a boss! but at least the email they sent was nicely worded!

Firetrap

I think your friend was right to ask for feedback - I hope they come back to her Personally, I've found interview feedback to be very helpful in the past.

Some people might think an email is a snub but at least they wrote something specific to her. I once got a PFO letter where they didn't even bother to change my name at the Dear... bit

Mrs OBumble

Emerald Lass wrote: »

To be told you were great and get positive feedback and then be told 'but you didn't get it anyway!' - so annoying and I feel for her!

And I also agree, sending an answer by email is a bit of a snubb.

There are now hundreds of candidates for each job. Probably at least 10% of them could do the job perfectly well. So she was great, someone else was better. It may be that they genuinely cannot give her any feedback on what she could have done better. (The 10% is a guess:, it may be anywhere between 0.1% for specialist jobs, or 95% for others.)

And 10, or even 5, years ago, replies via email would have been a snubb. Now it's just how business is done. Harsh, but true.

Emerald Lass

not in this case Mary, there were six candidates for interview, not hundreds, and it was not an application, but an interview. I think when someone has gone to the time and trouble (and expense) to travel to attend an interview, performs well, etc then a phone call is not too much to expect. The interview was not held where the job is located - but in an offsite office which was a 1.5 hour drive away, and pay parking to get to. She said that one of the guys interviewing was very nice but seemed quite shy - she reckons he just didn't have it in him to ring in person and say no, so instead he emailled - rejection at a distance. While I understand that its not nice to say no to someone and disappoint them, its manners, and as a manager sometimes you have to give bad news. so for those reasons I think a email response in this situation is not appropriate.