Refusal of feedback frustrating
Dear e-COACH,
I have been looking for a job and have gone on many interviews. It is frustrating to never find out why you didn't get selected. Why is it that most of the companies refuse to tell me exactly why I didn't get chosen and how I could improve? How else can I get feedback and do better in interviews? What do you suggest?
Dear Frustrated,
Imagine that you go into a clothing store. Imagine that you try on some clothes but don't buy anything. Imagine that I am the owner of that store, and before you leave I would like some feedback about why you didn't choose to buy those items. After all, I need this feedback so that I can maintain a saleable inventory in my store. Is it up to you to help me with that? Of course not. Why? Because it is neither your responsibility nor your obligation (legal / ethical) to offer me advice about my clothing line.
Now imagine that I am a Manager that has interviewed you, along with others, and have decided not to hire you. Is it my responsibility to give you feedback? Frankly, no. My job is to interview you and make an assessment about your suitability to the job on behalf of the company based on certain criteria. It is not my responsibility (or legal obligation, by the way) to offer you explanations or techniques for your future interviews. That's one reason.
There is another reason. If candidates are rejected because of personality characteristics that are incompatible with the job, that information is hard to communicate and even harder to receive. Many people have great difficulty accepting that type of feedback and as a result they become defensive and want to argue the point. This makes for a very unpleasant discussion - one that I, personally, avoid at all costs.
Also, the more often candidates are told about why they weren't selected, the more vulnerable companies are to claims of discrimination. Not because the basis of the decision was discriminatory, but because some people don't like the feedback, get angry and will even go so far as to make up claims for revenge. (It is easier for most people to believe that they have been discriminated against than to accept the fact that they may have some flaws in their character or personality to work on.)
Even though you may be one of those people that can accept constructive feedback, please realize that it is not a manager's / recruiter's job to tell you how to improve; they are not your personal coach. How else can you get feedback? Hire a good Career Transition coach or have someone videotape a mock interview for you. I am not suggesting that you stop asking for feedback, by the way. Just don't expect it and try to accept it graciously when you do get it.
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