Asking For Feedback After An Interview (With Examples)

Updated 27 March 2023

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Hiring managers look for humility and an eagerness to learn in every professional person. When you show interest in reviewing your performance after an interview, your interviewers can see your concern for personal growth and can provide their unique perspectives to help you. Understanding how to approach hiring managers for feedback can help you learn the best way to ask them and improve your chances for success. In this article, we review steps for asking for feedback after an interview and provide some tips, examples and benefits for these interactions.

Why Is Asking For Feedback After An Interview Important?

When asking for feedback after an interview, interviewers can provide you with insights that can help improve your interviewing skills. This feedback has several benefits, including learning more about competitors and developing self-awareness of your responses to questions. Asking for feedback and implementing it requires regular practice and humility but it can increase your chances of getting hired.

How To Ask For Feedback After Interviews?

Despite the benefits of receiving feedback, many candidates typically need help learning how to interact with hiring managers. You may need clarification about the best way you can approach them. The following are a few steps to help you show professionalism and request insights from your interview performance:

1. Appreciate your interviewer's time

To receive positive and quick feedback from your recruiters, become familiar with accepting your rejection gracefully. Once you receive the news via email or phone, you can thank your interviewer for their time in evaluating your qualifications. This can help you create a positive impression, show your professionalism and may allow you to strengthen your relationship with the recruiter.

2. Show politeness

Humility and politeness while asking for feedback can display a willingness to improve your skills. You can be polite when requesting them to share their honest opinions. This shows that you value your recruiter's response and are grateful for their efforts.

3. Describe your motivation

When connecting with your interviewer, explain your motivation and reasons for asking for feedback. Explain your desire to learn and improve, which can impress the hiring manager and increase your chances of getting future interviews for other roles. This request can also further help the interviewer develop an understanding of the type of advice you require and what pointers can benefit you.

4. Request comprehensive advice

Your recruiters have years of experience hiring employees in the industry. They are some of the best people to ask for guidance. Though not all hiring managers are eager to share their feedback, your reasons for asking for advice can motivate them to help you. When you demonstrate kindness and consideration through email, they may feel encouraged to share their opinion.

5. Acknowledge their efforts

At the end of your email, thank the recruiter for considering you and allowing you to participate in the interview. This formal gesture can help support your reputation with the company and its recruiters. You can refer to a part of the interview that has made you raise questions about your performance. If you receive a response, you can thank them again for their efforts and for taking the time to write back.

6. Execute the interviewer's suggestions

You can begin to apply the interviewer's suggestions to improve your qualifications and interview skills. You can seek out ways to improve your vocabulary, analytical or presentation abilities. When you pay attention to this feedback, you may also identify competitors' qualities and how you can develop them.

Tips For Asking For Post-Interview Feedback

The following are some tips you can use to request feedback after an interview:

Reply within 24 hours

You can reply to them within 24 hours of receiving the decision from the company's hiring team. Your prompt reply demonstrates your eagerness to grow and your professional, and proactive attitude. In addition, the interviewer can respond more accurately if you request their opinion soon after the interview, as they may still remember the details of your performance.

Address your recruiting team

You may reach out to the interviewer or the panel of recruiters who interacted with you. Politely approach them for a detailed analysis of your interview performance. To do this, you can write a specific email requesting positive and negative points by addressing the recruiter or the team of recruiters.

Avoid following up on your request

If the interviewer does not respond, avoid writing another email. It is preferable that you do not follow up on your request for feedback. Instead, you may discuss your performance and interview results with your mentors to get their opinions.

Request feedback when offered a job

You can ask for feedback even if you have received the job offer. You may want to know why the hiring managers have accepted you for the role. Their feedback tells you what you are doing right and what values are important to the hiring organisation.

Acknowledge and appreciate their feedback

Maintaining a healthy formal relationship can positively affect your career in the industry. Accept your rejection with a positive response and imply the same in your letter. Avoid trying to change the hiring manager's decision, as they may not consider you for a position in the future.

Examples Of Asking For Post-Interview Feedback

The following are some example messages you may refer to when asking for post-interview feedback:

Via phone

When you call the employer, you may arrange a specific date and time. This gives them time to think about your interview responses and provide you with detailed feedback. In addition, having a conversation with them can help them better understand your willingness to learn.

Example: ‘Thank you for inviting me to the interview last week and telling me about the organisation. I was wondering if I may ask you for feedback on my interview. Your insights can help me prepare better for interviews in the future and allow me to focus on improving certain aspects of my qualifications. Thank you very much for taking the time to discuss my performance.'

Via email

Communicating by email can be a formal way to interact with employers. Emailing your request gives the hiring managers additional time to assemble their thoughts and send you constructive feedback. Before sending the email, proofread it thoroughly to avoid errors.

Example: I sincerely appreciate your allowing me to participate in the interview process, for sharing details about the company and for your time, and effort during the interview. In this email, I wanted to ask if you could share your opinions concerning my performance in the interview, such as what areas I can strengthen and how I can improve my answers. The interview was an enlightening experience and provided me with more knowledge to help further my career.

Benefits Of Asking For Feedback After An Interview

Some benefits of asking for post-interview feedback include the following:

Allows for faster personal growth

Feedback from an interview can help you analyse your overall performance of the conversation and recognise your strengths, and weaknesses. During the interview, you may not notice what aspect of your skill set may require improvement. On receiving perspective from a third party on your performance, you can better understand how other evaluators perceive your interview capabilities.

Generates valuable insights from recruiters

Every hiring manager possesses distinct views and looks for a few attributes in their employees. By allowing them to share their feedback, you can identify what the hiring manager was looking for during the interview. When aware of their priorities, you can implement them during your preparation for upcoming interviews.

Offers improvement through competitor analysis

Analysing your competitor's performance can show you what you can improve. You can ask your recruiters about the qualities they found in the selected candidate. When you seek out information about the other candidates' backgrounds, you may find differences in qualifications or behavioural tendencies. For instance, if the chosen candidate has a particular certification, you can learn what skills you can advance more.

Increases job opportunities

Communicating with the interviewer and asking for feedback shows professionalism and an interest in the company. These attributes depict your growth mentality and can impress your prospective recruiters. You can also stay in contact with the hiring team of the preferred organisation, as there may be a chance that you are suitable for another role when other vacancies become available.

Expands your network

Connecting and communicating with the hiring manager or recruiter after the interview can expand your professional network. They may suggest you to other companies where vacancies for positions that suit your qualities are available. In addition, they can introduce you to other contractual, part-time or project-based opportunities, as they know your profile. Consider connecting on virtual professional networking platforms when you ask for feedback and receive a positive response.