Employer “unable to provide any feedback” about interview process

1 points by bobloblaw02 10 years ago | 3 comments

This is a rant thread. I know, and apologize in advance. But, if you ask me to give 8-10 hours of my time over a week or two to interview with your company and submit a take home test and then tell me you're moving on with other applicants, please at least give me some kind of feedback that might help me improve.

After receiving the email saying you're moving on with other candidates, I wrote back politely asking for specific feedback. Why did I not meet your company's expectations?

To say that you are unable to provide any feedback at this time is not only terribly unhelpful for any future interviews I need to prepare for, but also just a flat out lie.

This is most upsetting because the rest of the interview process was very professional and timely.

Has anyone had this experience before?

yoloswagins 10 years ago |

Sharing feedback is a huge risk for companies. Giving feedback after a rejection provides them ammunition for a potential discrimination lawsuit.

For this specific case, your best bet is to follow up with individuals after the interview, and ask for very specific things, rather than asking someone in HR.

One good way to ask for feedback has been to ask, "Is there anything that is giving you a pause for concern, or anything that gives you uncertainty about continuing the process?" The best time to ask is as the second question after the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for me?".

When you get a good response from that question, it allows you to confront your perceived weaknesses. At worst, it tells you something you already knew, "You could have solved the white board question in N time."

Getting good feedback is hard, both for the person to give, and for the asker to receive and process. Don't take it personally that people don't want to give you feedback.

snap12789 10 years ago |

Wow, fuck those guys; an 8-10 hour interview process with no feedback? Even if you do receive feedback, I wouldn't take it seriously. This interview sounds abusive and unprofessional, but hey, they wouldn't have done it if they didn't find applicants.

pavornyoh 10 years ago |

Sorry to hear. It is ok to rant and this happens quite often. I personally don't understand why as you want to give the candidate concrete feedback so that they can work on whatever didn't get them the job.

Also, there are legal reasons tied to it.