How to get interview feedback

Continuing our new blog series titled ‘Ask a Recruiter’ where we’ll be sharing questions we receive about interviews, CVs, the application process, and anything our candidates might be concerned or curious about. Have a read of our previous ‘Ask a recruiter’ blog.

Each week we’ll be answering one question that comes up in conversation with candidates; this week’s being about interview feedback.

A CIMA-qualified Finance Manager based in Brighton asks: “I disagree with the interview feedback, is there anything I can do?”

This is a tricky one. Your interview performance and subsequent feedback is a subjective viewpoint from that of the interviewer whether resulting in a positive or negative outcome. In your case, it’s a viewpoint which you don’t agree with. What to do?

The first thing I’d like to say is not to beat yourself up!

Most clients will be in an enviable position of interviewing a shortlist of candidates who, via their CVs, look suitable for the vacancy.  Through their recruitment process, they will benchmark candidates against the previous interviewee, the candidate in the ‘pole position’ or a previous colleague, to either decide to hire or continue the process with a whittled-down shortlist. What I encourage you to think about, and this goes both ways, is to look at the whole picture.

Of course, the client at a base level is qualifying your experience to do the job but so many other factors will be going through their mind. Factors which may not be shared. Such as team or culture fit, having met you do you meet with their plans for the direction of the role, will your 60-minute commute be realistic for the long term? It’s frustrating, but it’s their opinion and all will be taken into consideration.

You’re entitled to receive feedback

Following the initial interview, even whether you continue the recruitment process or not. If you have arranged the interview through a direct application, then do what you can to reach out to the interviewing panel or HR contact to gain some reasoning behind their decision. As part of our introduction process, we will always endeavour to gather some useful and insightful feedback which you can build upon or learn from. Attending an interview takes a great deal of preparation and energy, so it’s the least you should expect.

But at the end of the day, reflect on any feedback you receive whether you agree with it or not. Perhaps if you were honest with yourself, this one wasn’t right for you either.

Take control of the parts of the process that you can influence – research and preparation. But it will happen, the job with ‘your name written on it‘ is out there!

Tune in for our next instalment of ‘Ask a recruiter’. If you want to get in touch about a question you’d like to ask us, contact our team.

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