Dear Reader,
If you follow my work on any social media platform, you might have seen that yesterday I posted about what to do if you don't receive feedback after a job interview. I'd like to elaborate on this topic a little more.
Anyone who has ever been in a job search status has likely experienced the lack of feedback after submitting resumes. Larger companies, fortunately, tend to send at least an automated message when a candidate doesn't meet the position's requirements, but sadly, at the majority of companies, rejection letters, especially with explanations, are still rare.
However, we shouldn't hold this against the recruiters, as I know from experience that they work on many parallel searches at once, and reviewing resumes is only a small part of a recruiter's job.
I usually advise my clients that if they don't receive any feedback within two weeks of submitting their resume, they should assume their application hasn't moved forward. If a position is actively being recruited for and the candidate meets the requirements based on their resume, they will definitely be contacted within two weeks.
If that doesn't happen, it's either because the recruitment process isn't active, they are already progressing with other candidates and won't invite new ones until those candidates' fates are decided, or they simply believe the applicant doesn't meet the requirements.
As for the lack of feedback after an application, I don't see this as a major issue. However, I consider it extremely important that after the first interview, feedback should always be given/received regarding its success or the reasons for failure.
At the end of the interview, it's always a good idea to ask when feedback is expected, and it's important to respect that date. If the interviewer promises a response within two weeks, we should be patient and not start inquiring after just a few days to see if there are any updates. It may be that someone has been selected for the position, but it takes days for the offer to be approved according to internal procedures, and this waiting period is necessary.
If, after the two-week period passes and no feedback is received, it's perfectly acceptable to politely inquire with the recruiter (or whoever organized the interview) about when feedback can be expected. It's important to do this politely because an impatient, unfriendly tone during a phone conversation can easily ruin the good impression you've made.
Many recruitment professionals strive to give personal feedback over the phone to interviewed candidates, but sometimes, due to lack of time, this doesn't happen, and we only receive an automatic rejection message from the system.
If we feel that this is insufficient, we can ask why, but I'd like to emphasize that often recruiters aren't allowed to provide detailed feedback due to internal policies. If this is the response we receive, we should accept it—it's not the recruiter's fault, and by going against the rules and providing feedback, they would be risking their job.
After an unsuccessful interview experience, it's always worth reflecting on yourself and asking what someone else might have done better. It's helpful to review the interview questions and your responses from the perspective of whether you effectively communicated the knowledge you have.
In my career, I've encountered many candidates who clearly had the professional knowledge for a given position but managed their interviews terribly. In such cases, it may happen that a hiring manager gives someone a chance based on their expertise, but if there are two candidates with similar qualifications, the one who sold themselves better will certainly be selected.
Interviewing skills can be developed, and with relatively little effort, you can achieve good results.
A coaching-oriented career consultant can help with this too. This is something I can help with.
If you're interested in my work, you can find various content under the name "Karriering" on major social media platforms, and you can also expect a blog post here every week.
And if you feel that it's time for a change, feel free to book an appointment with me for a free consultation.