Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash
When was the last time a hiring manager or HR person gave you honest feedback on a job application or interview?
Back when I was a hiring manager, I prided myself on giving the finalist applicants as much feedback as I could, whether or not we hired them. I wanted folks to walk away from the process knowing what we liked about their qualifications, what concerns or issues we had, and any suggestions to improve their chances next round. That just seemed the most humane thing to do.
Now that I’m a job seeker, I face an endless stream of vague, vetted-by-legal responses to my job application:
Thank you for your interest in the position of [insert job title] at [company x]. We truly appreciate the time, effort, and thought you invested in the application process. After careful consideration, we’ve decided not to move forward with your candidacy at this time. This decision does not reflect on your potential or the value of your experience, and we hope you’ll continue to explore opportunities with us.
I get it. We live in a much more litigious society. Any possible criticism could be turned into a lawsuit. And HR folks are busier than ever with hundreds of people (and AI agents!) applying within hours for any job posting online. Honestly that’s not a job that I would enjoy.
So it’s so nice when someone actually gives you sincere, honest feedback.
In one hiring process where I was a finalist, the HR person left me a heartfelt voice message explaining that while I wasn’t being offered a position, that she thought I was a very strong candidate. She noted which requirements for the role I wasn’t the strongest at and what positions I might be a better fit for.
From another company, one of the hiring managers emailed me a note that while I wasn’t moving forward, that he wanted me to know that the hiring committee liked my work and presentation. But this year there were just so many extremely qualified applicants. He offered to recommend me if a similar role opened up at his company.
Obviously not the responses I had hoped for. But those small kindnesses helped ease the disappointment and encouraged me to keep going. Because you can only fill out so many hundreds of applications before you wonder if you’re just tossing a coin into a well hoping for a fairy godmother to grant your wish.
So to all the hiring managers and HR folks out there, I appreciate you. And if you have the bandwidth to provide even a bit of helpful feedback, I encourage you to do it. It can mean all the difference to someone.