As a tech employer, I can tell you the top 3 reasons why it's hard to provide the feedback you seek:
1) Many times it's not that you're lacking in any manner, it's just that there's someone that suited the position better. It's like dating - if you reject someone because someone better came into your life, what do you tell the other person? Usually it goes "it's not you, it's me...".
2) Sometimes I don't know what I'm looking for until I look. Then I get responses and realize I'm looking for the wrong thing. Then when I say no, again, it's not because of you, it's because of me. Sounds like dating again.
3) Finally, connections and personal relationships help. If I don't know you from Jack Adam, then it's hard to provide any sort of useful feedback if I don't have that much useful feedback. If we had a relationship, then I could give you some sort of advice on what would be a better fit for you, make a recommendation to someone else.
Instead of asking "what went wrong", maybe you might want to ask "is there anyone you can recommend or do you think that something / someone else might be a better fit"? You never know whomever else we might know in the space that's hiring. And while we might have found for ourselves a great mate, that doesn't mean you're not dating material. Perhaps we have just the right fix-up for you. Or maybe not.
Yes but in life as in dating, I'd like to know why I'm not a match.
Knowing the posting was inaccurate for what you're looking for is better than wondering why one got turned down for what seemed a perfect fit.
Instead of asking "what went wrong", maybe you might want to ask "is there anyone you can recommend or do you think that something / someone else might be a better fit"?
I really like this idea, I guess I never considered this as a possibility before. Nothing to lose by asking, though.
I think in many cases, like in relationships, it's intangible. The hired candidate just "clicked" with the interviewer(s). Also mentioned earlier, anyone who has a referral from a current (competent) employee is going to be greatly preferred over any candidate that nobody knows. The first two jobs I had after college I got on my own, everything since then has at least partly involved a referral.
Comments
As a tech employer, I can tell you the top 3 reasons why it's hard to provide the feedback you seek:
1) Many times it's not that you're lacking in any manner, it's just that there's someone that suited the position better. It's like dating - if you reject someone because someone better came into your life, what do you tell the other person? Usually it goes "it's not you, it's me...".
2) Sometimes I don't know what I'm looking for until I look. Then I get responses and realize I'm looking for the wrong thing. Then when I say no, again, it's not because of you, it's because of me. Sounds like dating again.
3) Finally, connections and personal relationships help. If I don't know you from Jack Adam, then it's hard to provide any sort of useful feedback if I don't have that much useful feedback. If we had a relationship, then I could give you some sort of advice on what would be a better fit for you, make a recommendation to someone else.
Instead of asking "what went wrong", maybe you might want to ask "is there anyone you can recommend or do you think that something / someone else might be a better fit"? You never know whomever else we might know in the space that's hiring. And while we might have found for ourselves a great mate, that doesn't mean you're not dating material. Perhaps we have just the right fix-up for you. Or maybe not.
Just one additional perspective.
Usually it goes "it's not you, it's me...".
Yes but in life as in dating, I'd like to know why I'm not a match.
Knowing the posting was inaccurate for what you're looking for is better than wondering why one got turned down for what seemed a perfect fit.
Instead of asking "what went wrong", maybe you might want to ask "is there anyone you can recommend or do you think that something / someone else might be a better fit"?
I really like this idea, I guess I never considered this as a possibility before. Nothing to lose by asking, though.
I think in many cases, like in relationships, it's intangible. The hired candidate just "clicked" with the interviewer(s). Also mentioned earlier, anyone who has a referral from a current (competent) employee is going to be greatly preferred over any candidate that nobody knows. The first two jobs I had after college I got on my own, everything since then has at least partly involved a referral.