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Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

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Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#251
I'm absolutely fine with getting no feedback now. I just want to know that I'm out of the running, through an email, and I'm entirely happy.

I used to ask for feedback, but it turns out it's absolutely pointless to do so, since bad interviewers give bad feedback, which ends up only, even subconsciously, costing you. Absolutely 100% of the feedback I've got back has been of this kind.

It's very hard to actually think of any actionable feedback someone who's not clueless about how hiring works could get anyway. Sure, if you were to tell me "study basic algorithms" or "take a bath" it would be helpful but provided I know I need to tick those boxes, then what?

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#252

> They are especially scared to give negative feedback to candidates out of fear that it might be misinterpreted as discrimination. >There is also the concern over a social media backlash because of something an employee said to a candidate. This right here, is 90% of it. Sure, the other stuff like too few resources, or too many applicants is partly true, but the crux of it is that people are far too sensitive right…

It's that people are too sensitive, is it? Or is it that "culture fit" excuses...uh...suck? The hand-wringing sorts who are simultaneously so protective of a company's "culture" but are so unable to substantiate how someone might not fit in in a way that isn't telling on themselves should be worried, but not because somebody might get mad at them on Twitter. It's because they're at best losing out on good candidates…

Yes, that feedback isn't very useful. It was just an example. But people would be offended at almost anything these days. Not educated enough. Not skilled enough. Not personable enough. Whatever. People can't look at themselves honestly and take on board criticism, and it is making us worse people.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#253
post #10

We interviewed a lot of hiring managers/etc. while we were working on a previous business in the hiring space. As part of that, we asked them this very question. The fear of litigation was by far the biggest reason we heard, but there were some other popular reasons (mostly relating around conflict avoidance): * Notably, giving feedback feels like an opening for the candidate to submit a rebuttal instead of ending th…

When I ran my recruiting business, we told people they were awesome, but not the kind of awesome we need right now. Sometimes I would offer personal feedback that was "off the record" if I felt they really needed to hear it.

I had a one candidate come thru who wasn't a fit. But on top of that, his clothes were filthy and his resume had a bunch of typos in it. I told him after the interview that we wouldn't be hiring for skills match reasons, but also offered the feedback on his appearance. He wrote me a letter a couple years later thanking me for the advice, which I guess he hadn't realized was holding him back.

Another time a hiring manager told me that a candidates mullet haircut was too unappealing. I decided to pass that feedback tactfully to the candidate after buying him a beer. Mullet guy actually ended up interviewing me for a job years later, and brought that up. He said his job prospects got much better after he got a haircut and thanked me for the feedback.

While I think giving no feedback is good advice in general, I think it's fine to tactfully offer feedback to a candidate if they really need to hear it. No one is going to try justifying the ketchup stain on their shirt. Haircuts might be more sensitive, but I was fairly confident mullet dude wasn't rocking business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back style for religious or cultural reasons.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#254
I always push for feedback. I can be pretty feisty when it comes to asking. I think it's only fair that if I bother to talk them either on the phone or in person that I get some sort of feedback. I've even taken to asking the interviewer in the interview itself. I love establishing an easy going, open and honest rapport.

Worst I had was after completing an unpaid "test" project that took me almost a day of my time, I was rejected without feedback. I pushed for feedback, it was a trial but I finally got it. The feedback? "No comments in the code". Thank you. I'd dodged a bullet, I told the recruiter.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#256
post #33
post #21

The need for a feed back is mostly psychological need. You go in, you think you did well, but you didn’t get the job. The company of course found someone better than you, some one did even better. Most likely the feed back won’t help you on your next interview, and second you just need to read most of the writing which is already on the wall. If you failed a white board, you’d know it. If you aced the white board som…

I've been in hiring loops where the candidate aced all the technical stuff, but wasn't hired because he wasn't enthusiastic about the new company, just sounded like he wanted to leave his old company. With a no feedback system, he may go study harder on the technicals for no reason. So I think feedback would have definitely helped his next interview.

Thing is, different companies interview so differently and with such wildly different expectations—for apparently nearly-identical jobs!—that I’m not even sure the odd bit of feedback here and there would even be all that useful.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#257
post #83

As a candidate, I've always preferred polite "thanks, but no thanks" responses in a timely manner. The other kind of feedback that I like is things like, "we need people with a different background / experience than you have." IMO, judgement feedback (you screwed up how you handle your yak shaving, or I don't think we'll get along with each other) is too subjective to be constructive. And, I get it. As someone who's…

There is another type of feedback that I as a candidate would find helpful, and that I would have liked to give candidates, but didn't due to corporate policy.

Something along the lines of: "To pay you as much money as you requested, we'd have to categorize you as a [Senior/Prinicipal] developer, but your skills/experience only put you at [Junior/Professional]".

If, as a candidate I had received this kind of feedback from two or three companies in one vertical, I would know that I have the choice between getting payed less and switching to a different vertical that pays better.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#258
post #83

As a candidate, I've always preferred polite "thanks, but no thanks" responses in a timely manner. The other kind of feedback that I like is things like, "we need people with a different background / experience than you have." IMO, judgement feedback (you screwed up how you handle your yak shaving, or I don't think we'll get along with each other) is too subjective to be constructive. And, I get it. As someone who's…

There is another type of feedback that I as a candidate would find helpful, and that I would have liked to give candidates, but didn't due to corporate policy. Something along the lines of: "To pay you as much money as you requested, we'd have to categorize you as a [Senior/Prinicipal] developer, but your skills/experience only put you at [Junior/Professional]". If, as a candidate I had received this kind of feedback…

What exactly was the policy that caused this? In my (luckily very limited) job searching experience, the salary is something that gets negotiated. I ask for something on the high side, they offer something on the low side. Repeat until you end somewhere reasonable. The only thing I can imagine causing someone to not be hired on salary without them knowing the reason is if there's no negotiation.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#259
post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is another type of feedback that I as a candidate would find helpful, and that I would have liked to give candidates, but didn't due to corporate policy. Something along the lines of: "To pay you as much money as you requested, we'd have to categorize you as a [Senior/Prinicipal] developer, but your skills/experience only put you at [Junior/Professional]". If, as a candidate I had received this kind of feedback…

What exactly was the policy that caused this? In my (luckily very limited) job searching experience, the salary is something that gets negotiated. I ask for something on the high side, they offer something on the low side. Repeat until you end somewhere reasonable. The only thing I can imagine causing someone to not be hired on salary without them knowing the reason is if there's no negotiation.

Right.

It's better to offer the candidate what the company is prepared to offer, both in terms of position and compensation. Let the candidate decline. At least some candidates will like the company enough to try working their way back up.

Though I'm sure acceptance rate is in some KPI, so there could be some bureaucratic nonsense involved.

Re: Reasons Why Job Seekers Are Not Given Feedback

#260
post #103
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been in hiring loops where the candidate aced all the technical stuff, but wasn't hired because he wasn't enthusiastic about the new company, just sounded like he wanted to leave his old company. With a no feedback system, he may go study harder on the technicals for no reason. So I think feedback would have definitely helped his next interview.

"Learn to feign enthusiasm better next time." It sounds useful and depressing at the same time.

https://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3454
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