Requesting Feedback After a Job Interview for Career Growth

ask for feedback after an interview
Created by Cake

Going through an interview can be scary, but after you've given it your best shot, there's only one thing left to do: find out how you did. The interview may lead to another round of interviews or an offer of employment, but it may also not lead to any opportunities.

This is why most people are pretty anxious after a job interview. It's natural to want to know how you did and whether or not you got the job. 

If you're lucky, your interviewer will give you some feedback. But what if they don't? When it comes to job interviews, the importance of feedback cannot be overstated. After all, how can you improve if you don't know what went wrong? 

If you've had an unsuccessful interview, chances are you feel disappointed, frustrated, and perhaps even a little embarrassed. It's important to remember that everyone has had an interview they didn't do well in. The key to turning this experience into a valuable one is to know what went wrong and work on it. 

Asking for interview feedback can help you understand where you need to improve. In this post, we'll discuss why you should request feedback after a job interview, as well as helpful tips, steps to write a feedback request email and email templates that you can use.

Why Should You Ask for Feedback After an Interview?

After an interview, it can be tempting to move on to the next opportunity and put the experience behind you, especially the ones that you did not do well in. However, taking the time to ask for feedback from your interviewers can be a valuable opportunity to learn and improve your interview skills. 

Here are the top 5 reasons why requesting feedback after a job interview can be one of the best decisions you can make for your career:

💡 Improving your interview skills

Interviewers may have a lot of experience interviewing candidates, and they can give you specific, helpful and professional feedback on your interview performance. By asking for feedback after an interview, you may be able to get insight into areas that you are not aware of and that you can work on before your next interview. 

For example, if your interviewer notes that you need to work on your eye contact, you can practice making more direct eye contact for future interviews. Asking for feedback after an interview is a simple way to make sure that you are always learning and improving as a candidate.

💡 Gaining insights about competitors

Interviews are competitions. Sometimes you are good, but you end up with a rejection email because other people are even better. Asking interviewers for feedback can give you some idea of what the competition looks like so that you can be better prepared next time.

Knowing your competitors can also provide some insight into interview trends, which can also be helpful.

💡 Understanding your strengths

Holding on to your strengths can give you the confidence to interview again. Requesting feedback after an interview may help reveal your strengths, be it interview skills, professional skills or personal strengths.

Interviewers' feedback can help you understand your own value as a candidate and hold on to it in future interviews. Feedback after interviews may give you the boost you need before your next interview.

💡 Learning the HR’s priorities

You may be asking for feedback from the hiring manager or HR. If you ask the right questions, HR or interviewers may reveal some insights about the company's priorities for the role you are interviewing for.

By learning the HR's priorities through feedback after an interview, you can better prepare for future interviews by aligning your interview answers with the company's needs.

💡 Expanding your professional network

Even if the interview does not lead to a job offer, you can still use the opportunity to expand your professional network. The people that interview you may be able to connect you with other opportunities or people in the future. Asking for interview feedback is a great way to start building a relationship with your interviewers.

These are just some of the benefits of requesting feedback after an interview. If you want to progress in your career, it is essential that you continuously work on improving your interview skills. Asking for feedback is one simple and effective way to do that.

How to Ask for Interview Feedback via Email

Now that you understand the importance of asking for feedback after interviews, let's talk about how. We've simplified the process of requesting feedback via email into 6 easy-to-follow steps.

✏️ Write a clear subject line. 

A subject line hugely determines whether your email is opened. A clear and concise subject line such as "Request for interview feedback" with your name and the job you interview for is more likely to be opened than a generic or vague one.

✏️ Thank them for the interview opportunity. 

Always start the feedback request email with a thank you. Interviewers spend a lot of time conducting interviews, and they are more likely to respond positively to someone who is grateful for the opportunity.

✏️ Let them know you’ve learned from the interview. 

Mention that you enjoyed the interview and tell them what you learned from it. This shows interviewers that you are interested in learning and progressing as a candidate, increasing the chance of them giving you feedback.

✏️ State your purpose clearly and politely. 

Keeping the email short and concise is key. Get straight to the point by stating your purpose for emailing - which is to request feedback from the interview. 

Be specific in your request, and state what kind of feedback you would like to receive. But remember to do it politely because you are asking for a favor.

✏️ Show gratitude.  

End the email by thanking them again for their time and expressing your interest in interview feedback. You can also thank them for considering you for the role.

✏️ Sign off and provide contact information. 

Include your contact information such as email address and phone number so interviewers can easily get in touch with you if they decide to give feedback. Remember to sign off with a courteous sign-off such as "Sincerely" or "Best".

By following these simple steps, you can request interview feedback via email like a pro! Requesting feedback after an interview can seem daunting, but it is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a top candidate. If you're still not sure what to write, read on for more tips and email templates!

Tips on Requesting Feedback After an Interview

Details may make or break your attempt to get interview feedback, so before you send out that feedback request email, here are 3 important tips to keep in mind.

✅ Ask for feedback within 24 hours. 

Timing matters. The interviewers are likely to remember more details about the interview if you ask for feedback soon after the interview. Typically, it is best to request interview feedback within 24 hours.

✅ Do not try to change HR’s mind. 

If you didn’t get the job, do not use the feedback request email as an opportunity to try to change HR’s mind. This will only annoy them, and it is likely that they will not respond to your email.

✅ Do not send a follow-up email if the recruiter doesn't respond. 

If you don't hear back from the recruiter after a few days, it is best to not send a follow-up email. The recruiter may be too busy to give everyone feedback after interviews, and they will appreciate that you respect their time.

Reaching out and asking for feedback after an interview can be a big favor to ask, so it is important to do it politely and professionally. By keeping these tips in mind, you increase the chance of getting a response and helpful feedback that will improve your interview skills.

How to Ask for Feedback After an Interview: Sample Email

The most common situation in which you might want feedback after an interview is when you are rejected for the job.

Below is a sample email that will show you how to ask for feedback in this situation. In this example, we’re sending an email to the hiring manager asking for feedback.

Dear Hiring Manager,

Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview for the Data Analyst position at the Pretzel Group. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about the role.

Although I am disappointed that I was not selected for the job, I would really appreciate it if you could provide me with feedback on my interview performance. I am always looking to improve, and I would be grateful for any insights you can provide. Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Hailey Williams

Asking for Feedback After an Interview: Email Template

Now that you have an idea of what a feedback request email should include, here's an email template that you can use as a starting point. Remember to tailor the email to your specific situation.

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the [position name] position at [company name]. It was a very valuable experience for me. I especially like how the interview questions were designed to assess my [skill/competency].

Although I am disappointed that I did not get the job, I was wondering if you could provide me with feedback on how I did during the interview. I am always working to improve my interview skills, and I would be very grateful for any insights you can provide.

Thank you again for your time, and I hope to hear back from you soon.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Asking for feedback after a job interview is essential to your career growth. It shows that you're serious about your career and willing to put in the work to improve, demonstrates that you are coachable and open to constructive criticism.

Of course, it gives you an idea of what you need to work on before your next interview. We hope the tips and email templates provided in this article will help you successfully request interview feedback from employers, so you can continue to grow and improve as a candidate.

Cake provides the best resume making tools & templates to help you create the perfect resume for your job hunt. Take your career journey to new heights - create a resume online (free download) now!

--- Originally written by Candy Ho ---

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