How To Ask for Feedback After an Interview – Blinkist Explains

Everyone talks about pre-interview jitters, but no one talks about the anxiety that follows the screening. Always these nagging questions in your head yelling: “Did I do well?”, “Did they like me?”, “Will they get back to me?”. This anxiety gets even worse when it’s your dream job. To ease yourself of this anxiety, it’s critical to learn how to ask for feedback after an interview.

Asking for feedback after an interview may seem a bit awkward at first and hard to do, especially if you don’t know how to deal with rejection, but after you’ve attended several interviews, you’d realize the usefulness of requesting feedback.

In this article, Blinkist shows you how to ask for feedback after an interview. We will also explain why it is important and the best way to approach it.

Why Is It Important To Ask for Feedback?

Asking for feedback after an interview is beneficial both for the candidate and the employer. For the candidate, it helps to identify your weaknesses and strengths. This way, you can prepare better for your next interview. For employers, it helps them to improve their recruitment process.

Asking for interview feedback could also boost your employment chances because asking these questions shows your willingness to learn and improve. This is one of the attributes that employers want to see in their workers and may influence them to take a chance on you.

Furthermore, asking for feedback after an interview helps build a relationship between you and the interviewer. By showing your willingness to improve, and asking relevant questions, you’re painting a good impression of yourself. This could encourage the employer to pursue your interests and keep you in mind for future opportunities.

When and Whom To Ask for Feedback

While it’s important to know how to ask for feedback after an interview, it’s also necessary to know when and whom to ask. Before we proceed, you should bear in mind some hiring managers will not give you feedback, even if you ask them nicely. Occasionally, they do this to avoid saying something overtly critical that may be misunderstood or just don’t have the time.

So, when is the right time to ask for feedback after an interview, and who should you ask?

Request Feedback A Few Days After the Interview

It’s best to ask for feedback as early as possible. Don’t wait for weeks before asking. Reach out to them early and ask questions like, “Based on your assessment, do you think I have the experience and skills that you need in your ideal candidate?”

You can send this as a follow-up email after an interview or via a phone conversation. Whichever one you choose, it is best to reach out within a few days, when the details are still fresh in the recruiter’s mind.

Request Feedback After Each Screening Round

If the recruitment process involves several rounds, you may ask for feedback at the end of each round. This will help you to prepare better for the next round.

Ask the Interviewers Themselves

The interviewers are the best people to ask for an appraisal of your performance. If you’re unable to reach them directly, you can call or email the HR department to request their contact information. Remember to be cautious and professional while doing this to avoid giving off a wrong impression.

How To Ask Professionally for Feedback After an Interview

Here are some tips on how to ask for feedback after an interview:

1. Start by Appreciating them for Inviting you to the Screening

Many people apply for a job opening, but only a few get an interview invite. So, it is best to start by thanking them for the invitation.

2. Be Polite

Always remember that the recruiter doesn’t owe you this feedback. In fact, it’s totally at their discretion to either respond to you or not. So, endeavor to be polite in your request.

3. Explain your Reason for Reaching Out

Clearly state the reason you’re reaching out to the employer. Tell them that you’re looking to become a better candidate for future opportunities, so you would like to know what your weaknesses are.

4. Be Specific, Not Vague

Don’t ask general questions like “How did I do in the screening?” Instead, ask specific questions like “What do you consider my strongest points, and which areas would you advise me to improve on?” 

5. Be Open-minded

Resist the urge to argue or become defensive when receiving feedback. Instead, listen attentively, and encourage them to tell you everything on their mind, and not to hold back.

6. Show Appreciation

In the end, appreciate them for their time and feedback. Showing gratitude gives a positive impression of you, and shows that you’re teachable. It could also be the start of a cordial relationship between you and the recruiter.

7. Review the Suggestions and Apply Them

After you have received the recruiter’s honest suggestions, it’s time to review and apply them. Indeed, you may not need to apply everything they say. But it is critical to apply the ones that resonate with your goals.

What To Avoid When Asking for Feedback

Getting a rejection letter after an interview could leave you feeling sad and depressed. Despite this, you should be careful when asking for interview feedback. Here are some things you should avoid when sending your request.

• Don’t ask too many questions. Instead, be specific and wait for a response.
• Don’t be too pushy when the recruiters fail to respond on time. Again, remember that they don’t owe you this feedback.
• Don’t argue or get defensive.
• Don’t ask leading questions like “Don’t you agree that I’d be a good fit for this role?”
• Don’t discard their suggestions. You need to apply them when preparing for future interviews.
• Don’t focus only on the negative aspects. You should also consider the positive things they said about your performance, and give yourself a thumbs up. You could also use those positive points in your next interview as a reason to hire you.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned how to ask for feedback after an interview, it’s important to adopt a better approach when preparing for your next recruitment process. These 10 books will help you to prepare for your job search and ace any job screening.

Blinkist has broken the key ideas of these books into short podcasts. So, you can listen to them on the go while preparing to meet your next employer.