Turned down? How to Get Feedback after an Unsuccessful Interview

When applying for executive jobs, an interview may be unsuccessful due to a number of factors:

• You were up against someone who had more experience than you
• The successful candidate had something that you didn’t possess
• The recruiter had a better feeling about the other candidate

In other words, you might do your best in an interview and still don’t land the job. A typical employee can simply walk away and move on to the next interview. But a successful executive, may he be looking for accounting jobs or managerial positions, knows tat every interview is an opportunity to learn and to even enrich a network.

To stop the guessing game, get feedback from your interviewer and ask for constructive opinion on how you can improve on yourself. For one, it will make a good impression on the interviewer. Moreover, you will learn faster with feedback than, well, without any. Here are some tips on how you can ask for constructive feedback after an interview:

• Ask for advice on how you can be a more effective communicator. Let the interviewer know that you value feedback. This way, he or she will be more open to the idea of giving you pointers.
• Take note of the advice given to you, and summarize it back to the interviewer. This way, you can ensure that you hear everything correctly and you don’t miss out on any valuable feedback given to you.
• Do not argue. If the interviewer gives you feedback that you think is wrong, resist the urge to argue. Do not be defensive; it is the enemy of improvement. Be open to suggestions and even if you know for sure that the interviewer’s opinion of you is wrong, use it to evaluate yourself and to improve on anything that might need it.
• Ask the interviewer for other vacancies that you can apply in. The interviewer may know of positions that will open in the near future. Since you already have a lead among other future candidates, you will have a better chance of getting that position even if it is still unadvertised. If you get considered for the other vacant positions, then you know that you were simply up against someone more competent and equipped.
• Let the interviewer know that you are very interested in the position. In case the other candidate declines the offer, you might be considered for the position instead. Surely your boldness to ask for feedback will make you a memorable candidate.
• Thank the interviewer for the time and feedback that they give you. A simple thank you can go a long mile, especially when given to an interviewer who talks with a handful of people every day.