After applying · 4 min read
How do I ask for feedback after an interview?
Ask once, politely, soon after the decision, and make it easy to answer: one or two specific questions rather than 'any feedback?'
The short answer
Ask once, within a day or two of hearing the decision, by replying to the recruiter or hiring manager. Make it easy: thank them, then ask one or two specific questions, such as 'Was there a skill or experience you felt was missing?' or 'Is there anything I could have explained better?' Many employers won't share detail, so don't press. When you do get feedback, thank them and note it alongside feedback from other interviews.
On this page 4 sections
An email you can send
'Hi Sam, thank you for letting me know and for the time you and the team spent with me. To help me in future applications, would you be able to share whether there was a particular skill or experience you felt was missing? Any detail would be really helpful. Best wishes, Alex.'
Questions that get answers
- Was there a skill or experience you felt was missing?
- Was there an answer I could have made clearer?
- What did the successful candidate bring that I didn't show?
What to do with it
Keep feedback in one note across applications. A point mentioned twice is worth working on; a point mentioned once might be about that employer.
OffLadder CV, our free Chrome extension, hands any job post to Laddie for a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of. You answer in your own words.
Questions people ask
- Do employers have to give interview feedback?
- Generally no. Some choose to, especially after later rounds; many give little or none.
- Who should I ask?
- The person who told you the decision, usually the recruiter. They may pass it to the hiring manager.
- What if the feedback seems unfair?
- Thank them anyway. You don't have to agree; you're collecting information. Look for whether it matches feedback from elsewhere.
- Can I ask for feedback after being rejected at the CV stage?
- You can, but replies are less likely. Reviewing your tailoring against the post is often more useful.
- Is it OK to ask on the phone?
- Yes, if they call you with the news. Ask then, while you have their attention.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
How this page is written
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