Rejected - email response

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Anonymous

12/08/20 at 7:27PM UTC

Career

Rejected - email response

I was rejected for a role that I felt I was not only an excellent fit for, but I also thought that the interview with the head of the group went very well. I promptly sent email thank yous, and the recruiter responded saying thank you, but that I was not selected to move forward in the process. The email said that they cannot provide feedback per their company's policies. I wrote back quickly just saying that I was disappointed and thanked her for letting me know (no-response, and I didnt expect one). Now what do I write to the hiring manager? I honestly thought the interview went really well. She said things like, "your team" and also asked me who else I've met with on the team, then said she would talk to recruiting about next steps. Do I just simply say again I was disappointed and leave it at that or do I press for feedback? UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your feedback. I immediately responded to the recruiter saying thank you for the opportunity on Friday when I was released. I wrote the hiring manager yesterday a similar note. Here's what I said, if anyone ever needs a nice note. Hi [name], I learned from [name] that I would not be moving forward in the interview process and I wanted to reiterate that it was a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you again for your time and consideration. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and learning more about [company] and [division]. Please keep me in mind for future job openings where my skill set aligns. I wish you and the rest of the team at [company] all the best moving forward. My sincere regards, [name] She wrote me back right away, "Thanks very much for the note. Thanks for your interest and time. Best of luck to you and Happy Holidays."

22 Comments

Anonymous

12/07/20 at 3:53PM UTC

This has happen to me a couple of times. I wish there more people that looked like me doing the interviews.

1 Reply

June Weatherbee

12/08/20 at 3:42PM UTC

What do you mean by that?

1 Reply

Sophia Kelly

12/08/20 at 7:34PM UTC

Systemic racism

Malissa

614

Controller in the Agricultural Industry.

12/07/20 at 4:01PM UTC

At this point I wouldn't ask for feedback. I'd email the hiring manager thank them for their time and consideration. Tell them you enjoyed meeting everyone and would love another chance if an opportunity arose in the future. This tell the manager that you are still interested. It also says you can accept the decision with grace and that you are leaving the door open. With any luck the manager will either reach out to let you know what to do differently in the future or at the very least have a good memory of your last interaction. This could come back to benefit you in the future.

2 Replies

Anne Barnwell

771

Resumes that get results

12/08/20 at 1:08PM UTC

100% agree with this. A positive communication in the face of frustration says a lot.

1 Reply

Phyllis Cohen

Director of Recruiting at SunFire Matrix

12/08/20 at 1:43PM UTC

I agree as well. If you send an email with grace—one that shows you are disappointed but remain interested in the company and it’s mission, you may be considered for new opportunities there, or possibly as a backup candidate if their first choice falls through (yes—I’ve seen it happen many times).

Anonymous

12/08/20 at 2:14PM UTC

I have a similar story except the hiring manager actually told me I had the job. She explained that I would be working at their latest property just as soon as it was ready for move in but that in a two (maybe more) weeks I would start training at her location. I was thrilled. I sent an email that afternoon or may have been next morning saying what a pleasant experience I had being interviewed by her and how grateful and eager I was to be joining their team. I confirmed that I would be hearing from her in the next few weeks to which she replied I should check in if I haven't heard by 4 weeks. 4 weeks later I had not heard anything so I checked in and was told the build out was not going as quickly as planned and it could be a few more weeks or even longer. She said if I found something else in the meantime she would understand. I told her I was in a position to wait and had stopped looking anyways. Too late for short story but it went on like this for over a month. In the end She just didn't call or email and it became clear I had been iced out. I don't know what changed. I even checked in with her over a year later when I was employed at a rival company. I told her while I was doing what I loved I felt her company and I were a better match and to please keep me in mind in the future. She was very icy and I have not heard from her since. Its been 2.5 yrs at least. The hire no hire was devastating for me because I had a large gap in my resume and finally I had the attention and appreciation and dang, someone looking past the gap and giving me the chance so many hadnt yet. Everything went and felt so right. So what happened....id love feedback as I still wonder.

Anonymous

12/07/20 at 4:27PM UTC

Totally respect your frustration. If the company policy is not to give feedback it is because they got burned or was advised by the legal team not to. I would encourage you to move on to the next interview

Brandi Matlock

Life Long Assistant

12/07/20 at 8:24PM UTC

While I understand that feedback is important and may be useful, I wouldn’t worry about it and move on to the next opportunity. Don’t waste too much time on something that does not benefit you right now. Spend that extra time on the next interview that could possibly turn into a better situation for you.

User edited comment on 12/07/20 at 8:28PM UTC

Anonymous

12/07/20 at 9:18PM UTC

I was recently rejected from a job where I got to the final round of a month-long process so I totally feel your pain. But don't bother with contacting or thanking the hiring manager if you've already gotten the official rejection from HR. The time to send your thank you email was right after the interview was finished. Hiring managers are trained to say the things you mentioned in order not to tip their hand during the process and unfortunately, they'll still say those things even when they have no intention of hiring you. It's best to move on and find that next opportunity with a company that will be a better fit for you.

Anonymous

12/08/20 at 1:37PM UTC

We may think an interview went well. The hiring manager will be polite etc. I suggest you study body language. That may give you a heads up in the future. Just move on to the next opportunity. Someone out there will see you as an answer to their prayer for a kind and conscientious employee. You seem like a sensitive person. The right employer will be lucky to find you.

Genevieve Aucoin

12/08/20 at 2:17PM UTC

I have also had one of these emails sent in error before! Thankfully the recruiter called me back later in the day to let me know they did want me to do a second interview, just minutes before I was planning to accept another offer (that would’ve been a less good fit!)

Anonymous

12/08/20 at 2:39PM UTC

From what I read in your post, the hiring manager used general and typical language for all candidates and it doesn't seem like she was implying that you would get the offer. I would express my disappointment and let her know that you would be interested in keeping in touch should another position open up.

Anonymous

12/08/20 at 3:03PM UTC

Although this is a difficult decision to swallow, I would do so with grace. Nothing you do is going to change their mind but if you handle your response gracefully, open and willing for future opportunities, maybe point out why you would be such a good fit in the future they will keep you in mind when something else opens up.

User edited comment on 12/08/20 at 3:04PM UTC

Emily Frank

12/08/20 at 5:01PM UTC

There are a lot of reasons they chose to go with other candidates, so try not to read it as a rejection. Here's an example from a client of mine: she'd been looking for a role for a few months in a very high-demand field. She kept having similar experiences, being very qualified and feeling like she hit it off really well with everyone in the interview, but not getting offers. Finally, one hiring manager explained to her that the position she was applying for is very much a team position, and she was getting passed over specifically because she was so similar to the rest of the team. Shortly thereafter, she interviewed somewhere that didn't feel like she was so simpatico with the others, and, lo and behold, she got an offer. (She is also very happy in her current role, so don't fret that diversity of thought and approach means you won't fit.) So as someone above said, thank the hiring manager, say that you're interested in other positions in the organization, and let it go.

Mandy

Writer Extraordinaire

12/08/20 at 5:57PM UTC

It likely had nothing to do with you, and any feedback you received would be unhelpful. The person who interviewed you sounded like they wanted you for the job, but perhaps a qualified internal applicant was put in the role. Or maybe the hiring manager's boss just insisted on someone else just to exert his or her power. Who knows? Leave the door open in case there's another opening down the line and move on.

User edited comment on 12/08/20 at 5:58PM UTC

Hollise Mitter-Brown

12/08/20 at 6:37PM UTC

Could not agree more Emily and Mandy. Getting feedback may be helpful, however, keeping the lines of communication open are important in this era of required networking.

Beth Scott

Be the change you want to see

12/08/20 at 7:18PM UTC

This happened to me a year & a half ago. Respond with as much grace and dignity as you can muster. You don't want to close any doors. What happened in my situation was that the candidate they chose accepted and then changed her mind and they came back to me, so professionalism was key. I agree that asking for feedback may be useful and the answer may just be that another candidate was a better fit rather than something you did wrong or are lacking.

Rochelle Wagner

12/10/20 at 3:04PM UTC

I have really enjoyed learning from this conversation despite being reminded of past feelings of disappointment from similar situations. I wanted to ask a very simple question - and while the knee jerk response is well known, I think some reconsideration of it may be beneficial. I used to extend myself and write a very personalized and professional (sometimes even handwritten) message of thanks for being considered for the job. There were never responses and I didn’t really expect one. I would argue that the format of applying and interviewing now is so detached that you quite possibly may not even have that opportunity to communicate. At this point I converse politely and as graciously as I can but I move on mentally in my head. I don’t write unsolicited notes anymore, such as formal thank yous. But by the responses above, that seems ill-advised. Does anyone else agree or found themselves doing the same - skipping the additional “closing” thank you notes?

1 Reply

Rebeca Evantash

164

Strategic integrated marketing leader

12/10/20 at 7:39PM UTC

I like to close the loop if it's a company that I would like to work for perhaps in the future or that I would like to stay in contact with that person. I like to leave on a high note, showing my maturity and grace. However, if I wasn't treated well or the company ultimately wasn't a place I care about, I dont always respond.

1 Reply

Rochelle Wagner

12/10/20 at 7:48PM UTC

Thank you! I do respond kindly but do not always follow up with another “official” thank you later. Appreciate your experience.

Cynthia Wright

Executive Assistant

12/11/20 at 7:34PM UTC

I agree with Beth Scott. I did a thank you note to the interviewing/hiring manager immediately after the interview. Through friends I learned another person was selected. However, there was a change in heart by one of the parties and I was offered the position a few weeks later. Professionalism and patience paid off.