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I was rejected from a job. Can I ask them why?
I have some hard feelings about being rejected from the same company twice in two months. I applied in August and got a first interview, but failed to impress the recruiter because I didn't believe in myself and I thought the position was a bit of a reach. That's okay, I wasn't mad about being rejected. I was disappointed, but not turned off completely from this company.
I applied again last week and I finally got a vague rejection notice that they wouldn't be moving forward with an interview. And here's why I'm salty about it: my skills and experience perfectly aligned with their job description. I wrote a killer (IMO, at least) cover letter detailing how I fit with their company, why I love it, and how my skills and experience lines up with their job description. I even reworked my resume a second time to fit even more closely with their posting.
I connected with the first recruiter on LinkedIn but they weren't the one to handle my application this time around. So my question is: Can I ask them to ask the recruiter who DID view my application why it was rejected?
I know I shouldn't be mad about it since I'm sure they get thousands of applications and can pick and choose who they want. But it's hard not to be frustrated when feeling like you're perfectly suited for the job (they asked for two years' experience, I had three) and you don't even get the interview. I just want to know why I wasn't selected for the next round. I'm not expecting them to hand me the job or anything. At least talk to me, see if I'm a good fit or not. Is that unreasonable? Am I being totally irrational and am I way out of line?
Cinzia Iacovelli
Marketing Manager & Mentor
953
11/15/20 at 2:30AM UTC
I think it's not a bad idea to ask for a feedback, but please keep in mind that just a few recruiters are willing to share it. Don't feel bad about this. There are so many factors at work and your performance or experience could not be the main reason they rejected you.
MariaYoga Teacher for Future CEOs
11
11/11/20 at 3:44PM UTC (Edited)
I think it's totally fair to ask. Most people don't and so I commend you for seeking feedback. It's likely a toss up on whether you'll get a response though because the recruiter is likely very busy with lots of messages to answer. I encourage you not to be discouraged by that and to keep going. Another thing to consider is working with or asking for a resume review from someone with more experience in the same industry or joining a free workshop about resume development/job searching. Best of Luck!
Lise HouwelingHospitality Expert and People Lover
16
11/06/20 at 4:09PM UTC
I love that you asked this question! After relocating to another state recently I have been applying for about 20 jobs per week for 2 months .. I've had a couple interviews, have a recruiter looking for, and nothing so far. In my 25 years of working I have never experienced anything like this. I tend to think that the current environment - between politics and Covid - are making things that much harder! I think asking professionally why is totally legitimate but I agree with the others who said don't expect an answer! there are a lot of us in different sectors ie. Hospitality, Travel, who are all looking for jobs, so the competition is fierce!
Limor Bergman
24
11/05/20 at 4PM UTC
It is absolutely ok to ask, they may not answer though. The best strategy to apply is through someone who already works there and can refer you (even if they do not know you). It is very hard to get noticed when applying on the company website. I have not found that to work at all for me.
Jessica Parker, PMP♦ Technology Leader ♦ Author ♦ Entrepreneur ♦
140
11/04/20 at 8:34PM UTC
Given our litigious environment, many companies will not provide specific feedback for fear of opening themselves up to a lawsuit. Best bet is to move on.
Anonymous
11/03/20 at 5:20PM UTC
If you have a contact (assume the recruiter) at the company you should certainly reach out and ask them for feedback. The feedback would be helpful for your professional development and growth. If they respond great if they don't then move on. Side note, if they don't respond do you want to work for that type of a company?
Lauren Brogan Motsinger
30
10/27/20 at 8:13PM UTC
I'm late to this convo, but you should definitely ask for feedback! It doesn't hurt and you'll regret not asking. Asking will give you closure. But at the same time, don't be surprised if they don't give you an answer- and if they do give feedback, take it with a grain of salt. Ultimately, it wasn't meant to be and it could have had nothing to do with you. Move on and stay confident! Good luck in your search!
Ellen TorreysonOverwhelm Coach for Women
14
10/23/20 at 4:50PM UTC
You can always ask, but my question to you is why? What are you making it all mean about you? If you ask, you'll either not get a response and potentially feel even more frustrated or you'll get your answer and...potentially feel more frustrated. Or, take the feedback and potentially use it against yourself - like, I should do this differently, etc. This is the opinion of one person/company. They don't define your worth. What if they had an internal candidate and had to post externally to check a box? There could be a bunch of reasons for the result, none of which have to do with you. Do you want to spend your time trying to unwind that or focus your energy on your next opportunity?
Debra Fletcher
11
10/23/20 at 12:42PM UTC
Don't bother. While I 100% agree that being open and seeking feedback is the best path to growth asking it from a team who doesn't know you can often give you irrelevant feedback. Focus on the path forward and finding a company that does value you your skills to give you the interview and then ideally the job!
Sian Weekley, SHRM-SCPArea Human Resource Manager
110
10/23/20 at 12:07AM UTC
I agree with the majority, you can ask, but prepare for a lack of response. Also, I would be cautious of how you ask the question... many recruiters talk or keep a tight circle, so be professional in the question. Maybe try investigating who did receive the role, it could have been an internal promotion, which most companies strive to do before going external.
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