I recently read a statement that really threw me, I won’t share the source as I do not believe in outing someone, but they recently took to social media and proclaimed, ‘there is nothing worse than someone asking for interview feedback before they have even left the meeting’.
I had to read it a few times as I have historically always given the opposite advice. I questioned my own process for a moment and felt like I had let all those I have worked with down over the years, then I snapped out and realised I was being stupid.
Interview feedback is clearly crucial for both parties but from the perspective of the applicant, which this article is focused on, I believe it is everything. If you cannot get the job, you should at least be able to gather feedback to learn why which in turn will help you pivot your skills in the future.
There are a number of guides you can find online that will claim how to get feedback in the ‘right’ way but just to break that myth, there is no hard and fast rule… some companies will give it whilst other won’t (and it doesn’t matter how many times you ask!).
Knowing this you can of course do a few things to boost your chances such as:
Follow up after the interview with a polite thank you note highlighting what you enjoyed about the meeting and requesting information on the next step.
Be open minded to negative feedback and be ready to learn from it.
Ask advice if the meeting was negative as to keep the connection warm for the future.
Do not argue with the feedback, remember it is just an opinion and not your story.
This is all well and good, but the title clearly states ‘immediate interview feedback’ so how do you go about getting that?
A very simple question will unlock this answer and much to the opposite of the advice I read online, it takes place during the interview itself. I encourage everyone I work with to ask this question at the very end of every interview, but I am mindful that some simply don’t like putting themselves out there like this but if you’re like me, you don’t want to waste time thinking about something when you can get the answer immediately.
After all is said and done, you have conducted the interview. Answered there questions, they have answered all of yours, the very final thing you want to ask before you say your goodbyes is:
‘do you see any reason as to why we cannot continue?’
This small but highly effective question can only prompt one of three answers, it almost gives the interviewer no where to hide. The three possible answers are:
Yes we can continue (to which you ask what are the next steps).
We will need to get back to you (which is most common but at least you can then follow up in a few days if nothing comes organically)
No we cannot (to which you can ask why, and potentially learn or resell your skills back in).
Like I mentioned, it is not for everyone, the prospect of being rejected in person is hard to consider than being rejected over email, but a simple question could be the difference between moving forward or not, especially if the interviewer misunderstood something you said during the meeting.
Give it a try in your next meeting, what is the worst that could happen?
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