Feedback following unsuccessful interview

mongie

Is it common practice (and worthwhile) to seek feedback following an unsuccessful interview? And are companies usually forthcoming?

A bit of background...I recently received a PFO from an interview that I felt at the time had gone pretty well. It came up during the interview that there was a long-term temp in covering the role and the cynic in me thinks that person may well have been offered the permanent role with the exercise in interviewing external candidates just a formality as the position is EU funded (this was commonplace when I worked in the public sector and they were filling vacancies with internal candidates who had to be seen to be the best of the bunch so they interviewed a few outsiders to tick the boxes).

Like most jobhunters it's not the first PFO I've received lately, though this interview had gone by far and away much better than some others I've had, and so I am more disappointed than usual that I didn't get it. Friends have suggested I seek feedback on why I was unsuccessful but I'm sortof thinking that if they already had a candidate they wanted to have the job they'll say anything to get rid of me

Do people generally get useful feedback from interviewers once they've been ruled out for a position?

Mr. Loverman

No harm trying, but be prepared for a sugar coated answer which will require a bit of reading between the lines. However I expect most employers will not give feedback.

eclectichoney

I think you are entitled to ask for feedback under the freedom of information act - i.e. you are entitled to any information they hold about you, and surely interviewers keep a record of your score / performance at interview - this is the info I believe you are entitled to. But from my own experience you usually just get 'other candidates had more experience & were more closely aligned with our needs at this times' etc.!

RATM

eclectichoney wrote: »

I think you are entitled to ask for feedback under the freedom of information act - i.e. you are entitled to any information they hold about you, and surely interviewers keep a record of your score / performance at interview - this is the info I believe you are entitled to. But from my own experience you usually just get 'other candidates had more experience & were more closely aligned with our needs at this times' etc.!

This is correct and in my own experience company's are generally forthcoming on it, especially big multinationals who stick to rules by the letter.

Do be prepared for generic answers though as above. Turn the situation around by asking open ended questions such as 'Can you advise me on distinct skills & competencies in which I can improve my application to other companies?'

I had a candidate a few weeks back who got feedback from the employer. He acted upon it and then landed the very next position he applied for, during which they remarked about how he had distinguished himself from other candidates in the very area the previous employer had highlighted. Feedback is valuable, not having it is like having a blindfold for further interviews.

Jim2007

eclectichoney wrote: »

I think you are entitled to ask for feedback under the freedom of information act

This has been discussed a few times now and as far as I can recall, the FOI act only applies to public bodies and S21 of the act excludes "industrial relations and personnel management" records.

Jim.

allibastor

Agree with RATM. it is better to ask for feedback, if they give you only one helpful item then it was worth it. not to diminish you but an interview may have gone well in your eyes but not so well in thiers. feedback should be sought if you were at interview stage as it shows the had a genuine interest in you and thought of you well enough to expend money on this process.

that being said a lot of public funded jobs have the problem outlined by you where they have someone earmarked for a job but have to go through the formalities of advertising it. you will know right away if the feedback you get is very very general and not helpful. that will be because they didnt have a good reason for not giving the job to you.