As a professional, it can be difficult to ask the questions you need to advance your career. While employers won’t always provide an in-depth explanation of why you didn’t get the job, there are still ways to respectfully ask for more information. Knowing what information to request and how to express your questions can help you gain valuable insight into why you weren’t selected for the position. In this post, we will explore how to ask why you didn’t get the job in a professional and appropriate manner. We’ll discuss the best practices for reaching out to employers, the types of questions you should be asking, and how to use this information to improve your chances of getting hired in the future. With the right approach, you can gain a better understanding of why you didn’t get the job, and use this knowledge to increase your chances of succeeding in the future.
How to ask why you didn’t get the job
To politely ask an employer why you weren’t given a job offer, follow these steps:
1. Think about the interview
Start thinking back on your interview after finding out you didn’t get the job. Think about the following things:
The first step to becoming a more qualified applicant is realizing that you could develop your interviewing abilities. Try to recall the inquiries they made and record them. As employers in the same profession frequently ask similar interview questions, doing this will help you prepare your answers for a subsequent interview. If you excel in interviews, you might want to focus on raising your qualifications for the job.
2. Send a follow-up email
Writing a professional email after not receiving a job offer may be difficult, but it’s crucial for your career to advance. It offers you the chance to keep making a good impression. It’s wise to maintain your polite demeanor because this company may offer more employment opportunities in the future.
3. Politely ask for feedback
Ask them if they would be willing to give you some feedback when sending the follow-up email. You can also politely inquire as to why you were not hired. By posing these queries, you can discover what you can do better going forward. While receiving feedback can help you see the situation more realistically, cognitive bias may lead you to believe that your interview went flawlessly. You can increase your chances of receiving a job offer in the future by learning an employer’s frank assessment.
4. Reply to their feedback
It is professional to respond to their feedback after reading it and giving yourself some time to consider it. Before responding, you have a week to consider what they have said. Thank them in the email for taking the time to give you feedback. Make it clear that you’ll work to improve these areas if you want to have the opportunity to work for them in the future. Express your desire to stay in touch and your openness to new opportunities.
5. Reflect on what they say
Apply their advice when it’s time to continue your job search. For instance, if they advised you to practice for your interviews because you need better responses, do so. Find out which interview questions are most frequently asked for your position by employers and prepare possible responses. Your confidence may even increase if you conduct a practice interview with a family member or friend. You can improve at interviews and discover how to highlight your talents with practice.
6. Try applying to another job in the future
Apply for new positions now that you are aware of what needs to be improved. Consider this a chance to improve as a candidate rather than a setback. As you gain more experience, keep honing your responses and expanding your resume. Be aware that the hiring process can be time-consuming. In order to receive a job offer you want to accept, you frequently have to apply to a large number of jobs.
Common reasons for not getting a job
These are some of the most typical excuses given by employers for not making an offer to a candidate:
Youre better suited for other work
Sometimes an employer cannot make you a job offer because they believe you would be a better fit for another position. You can start applying for jobs that are more relevant to your qualifications by considering your professional background and skill set. When applying for jobs, keep in mind that employers frequently have a specific candidate in mind. This will increase your chances of success.
Someone was slightly more qualified
Even though you had all the qualifications listed on the job application, there might have been another applicant who had a little bit more experience. Although you were a great fit for the position and your interview went well, another candidate may have stood out more due to their qualifications. You can keep improving your resume and apply elsewhere if you’re still interested in a position with a similar title.
You need to prepare more
Even though you should attempt to respond naturally to interview questions, practicing your answers beforehand can make you feel more assured during the interview. If you struggled to respond to many of the interviewers’ questions, it may be an indication that you need to better prepare for your upcoming interview.
Making a calm and assured impression is another aspect of looking prepared. To achieve this, prepare thoroughly for your interview by choosing your outfit well in advance, getting enough rest the night before, and arriving a few minutes early.
The employers directions were unclear
It’s possible that a misunderstanding prevented you from getting the job. For instance, the employer might have provided you with specific instructions that you found difficult to follow or didn’t see Reread everything an employer sends you whenever they get in touch.
Make sure to respectfully request clarification whenever you have any questions. They will be delighted to assist you in properly following the instructions if you meet the requirements.
They went with an internal employee
An employer might choose to promote a current employee even after interviewing several candidates. They might have had this candidate in mind before the hiring process, but they still had to make the job public. Since they already know the work ethic and personality of their employees, hiring internally is typically a safer bet for employers. Additionally, since they are already familiar with the company’s policies and perhaps even the position, existing employees are often easier to onboard.
You can improve your online presence
The employer might have looked at your online profiles after the interview. Because of this, it’s crucial to make sure that all of your personal social media accounts are set to private or that you maintain a professional presence. When posting online, only share appropriate photos and links. Likewise, take care when you leave comments on other people’s blog posts.
The employer might have thought you needed more follower engagement if the position required you to have a sizable online following. View the team page on the company’s website to see how current employees present themselves there.
You need to choose better references
It’s crucial to select references for a job from people you know will give you high marks. Consider what they might say about you when choosing a former employer. If you excelled in your position and left the company on good terms, only ask for references from previous employers. Its ideal to choose people you have positive relationships with.
The company has budget constraints
Due to financial limitations, the company might not be able to pay you the required salary or may have completely stopped the hiring process. You might not hear back from them in these circumstances because hiring new employees might not be high on their priority list. They might be preoccupied with figuring out new strategies to boost their revenue and restore order to the business.
Example follow-up email
When requesting an explanation from a potential employer, use the following sample email as a guide:
Dear Maria Jones,
I appreciate your considering me for the position of junior graphic designer. I value the time you spent learning about my background and interest in the position. Despite the fact that I was eager to be considered for this position, I appreciate you telling me about your choice.
Since I can tell that you have a lot of hiring experience, I would like to know why I was not hired. To find out what areas I can improve on moving forward, I would appreciate some feedback. My passion is graphic design, so I want to do everything I can to increase my chances of finding work in this industry.
I am willing to speak with you about this feedback over the phone, but I would also greatly appreciate a response via email.
Thank you for your consideration,
Nathan Fieldsman
Example response email
Use this sample email to help you write your response when an employer provides feedback and explains why you weren’t hired:
Hello Maria,
I appreciate you taking the time to provide me with thoughtful criticism. I’ve given everything you said a lot of thought, and I’m eager to put your advice into practice. Since interviews aren’t my strongest suit, I’ll try to prepare my answers and increase my confidence.
I truly appreciate you helping me improve as a candidate. I would be interested in applying if your company ever has any graphic design positions available.
Thank you again,
Nathan
Why Didn’t You Get the Job? – Ask Them Why They Didn’t Pick You
FAQ
How do you politely ask why you didn’t get the job?
- Think it over first. First things first. …
- Say thanks. Thank you and politely inquire as to why you didn’t in an email.
- Ask for feedback. After expressing gratitude, kindly request input on your application.
- Make sure to ask the right questions. …
- Listen and apply the feedback.
Is it appropriate to ask why you weren’t hired?
You gain a lot of insight into who you are, and the business gains awareness of your potential as a candidate for upcoming positions. It is perfectly acceptable to ask your employer what could have made you a more competitive candidate if you attended an interview with your own company for a different position or promotion and were rejected.
