Is it ok to ask an employer why you were not hired?

[Hawk]

not gonna argue about it...it just wouldn't be a question I would answer truthfully if I was doing the interview...it would be a cookie cutter...your resume seems fine and your interview went well...we have several other people to look at, have a nice day...don't call us, we'll call you!

[Kettle]

sounds like you are a bad employer

[Mvp2014]

No one is going to tell you the truth, but good luck.

[Zcustom]

I've been interviewing people for 15 years, and my one rule is if I interview you I'll call you back. Seems like common courtesy to me, interviewers who sit up in their ivory tower and never call back the applicants (who were interviewed) who didn't get the job are just plain rude. We're all human after all.

To the OP. Unless you have some major glaring flaw it's hard to give feedback like that, for all the well listed reasons above.

The only time I've given real, honest feedback is when I have people who have those major flaws that can't be considered discrimination, and those are very rare

[Niner National]

This is a good question. I have been thinking of doing the same thing. I have been unemployed for over a year now. I cant seem to get hired anywhere. I usually dont even get a response back when i apply. I have applied for hundreds of jobs over the last year and have maybe had 5 interviews. I just dont know what i am doing wrong.

You need to do more than just upload and submit your resume.

You should also tailor your resume to fit every job you apply for. A lot of companies, especially larger ones, will use resume screening software that will scan your resume for keywords related to the job description. If it doesn't meet the requirement, it disqualifies you before anyone ever looks at it. A very common thing to screen for is address. Some companies don't feel like dealing with employees that have to relocate, so they just set the screener to kick out of area resumes aside.

Surf LinkedIn for people at companies you'd like to work for and send them messages. Some companies have openings, but don't list jobs because the internet has made it so easy to apply that they end up with a lot of trash resumes from people that are completely unqualified.

There is nothing wrong with cold calling companies either, although most don't like it if you show up in person unannounced.

You have to make yourself stand out.

We got a great cover letter from a guy a few days ago that didn't meet our listed requirements, but his cover letter was well written, hilarious, and explained his situation, his skills, and his background. We interviewed him. Not sure he'll get the job, but he got himself noticed and got us to talk to him and that's the most important step.

[Darth Biscuit]

sounds like you are a bad employer

I agree with Hawk... (can't believe I typed that... :crazy:)

...but I would tell someone approximately the same thing. Unless they were an absolute shoo-in for the position, I'm not going to give them too much honest feedback at that point, esp if I had others to interview.

[Kettle]

Z is a good employer. You should take notes Hawk.

edit: I do agree asking the question after the interview is pointless. Close the interview.

[Hawk]

Z is a good employer. You should take notes Hawk.

edit: I do agree asking the question after the interview is pointless. Close the interview.

I have never interviewed someone without giving them a call back...and it's always me that calls them...not some flunky from HR or a secretary!

As for the how they did question...I don't think it's a good idea to give them false hopes. If I'm interviewing 10 people and you are number 1 - 9...I don't know how well you did compared to the others...I only know when #10 walks out the door. Like Biscuit said...if you really shined and I'm pretty confident that you are it, I might tell you more...but I'm not going to bullshit you before the process is complete.

[SOJA]

Ive just been through a 2 month long hiring search to fill a position. I was replacing a staff member who just wasn't working out so I had the luxury of time.

I interviewed about 30 people of the hundred plus resumes we got and in the end only a 2 or 3 of them didn't have the skills. Almost everyone I passed over was fine and probably could have handled the job but it was little things that tip the scales against them.

Some of the reasons I disqualified candidates:

A weak handshake.

Not knowing anything about who we are and what we do

Poorly fitting suit.

Smelled like an ashtray.

Couldn't name the last novel they had read.

Not a football fan.

Didn't play video games.

Those last three are big culture things among my team. Its what we talk about in our downtime.

Point being Id be wary of asking. Youll either get a lie, some canned response they tell everyone or something you really don't want to hear. Would you really want to know I disqualified you because you don't read novels?

my...god....and my whole childhood my parents told me I was wasting my time

[Kettle]

I have never interviewed someone without giving them a call back...and it's always me that calls them...not some flunky from HR or a secretary!

As for the how they did question...I don't think it's a good idea to give them false hopes. If I'm interviewing 10 people and you are number 1 - 9...I don't know how well you did compared to the others...I only know when #10 walks out the door. Like Biscuit said...if you really shined and I'm pretty confident that you are it, I might tell you more...but I'm not going to bullshit you before the process is complete.

then thats what you tell them if they ask. most people appreciatte the honesty.

[Kettle]

studies show certain video games are good mental exercise.

[Scrumtrilescent]

You just called Ellen a flunky.

[Darth Biscuit]

then thats what you tell them if they ask. most people appreciatte the honesty.

Yeah, most people appreciate the honesty, I do... and I try and be honest with people. Like Hawk said, I personally contact people that I've interviewed and tell them the results...

The problem is the 5% of people who are psychos and if you were 100% honest with them, they would end up suing you or something... :mad:

[Guest]

Yeah, most people appreciate the honesty, I do... and I try and be honest with people. Like Hawk said, I personally contact people that I've interviewed and tell them the results...

The problem is the 5% of people who are psychos and if you were 100% honest with them, they would end up suing you or something... :mad:

Exactly. pose this question to a company lawyer and their radar goes on full blast. We aren't even allowed to respond to reference calls other than "they worked here from such and such to such and such".