How to Ask for Feedback During the Interview

You’re interviewing for jobs, but not getting hired.

It might seem intimidating to ask the recruiter how you did during the interview but speaking up can only steer you in the right direction to becoming a better candidate. Oftentimes, people get rejected from jobs and continue applying to other companies without first reflecting back on past interview experiences. Asking for feedback during the interview or even after is a good way to measure how well you did or what you need to do to appeal to more companies.

It can be hard to speak up if you haven’t done it before, so if you’re not sure how to ask for feedback, follow these steps and you will succeed.

1. Thank the interviewer

After the general interview is over, and you’re done asking and answering questions, you can start by thanking the interviewer. Thank the interviewer for taking time out of their day to talk to you. Being kind and expressing a positive attitude towards the interviewer increases your chances of having a constructive conversation afterwards. 

2. Explain your motivation

After thanking the interviewer, explain that you are always looking for ways to improve yourself and take the opportunity to ask them if they have time to talk about your skills and experiences further. Be sure to mention that you understand if they are short on time and prefer to communicate after a few days via email. Some people may need a couple of days after the interview to gather their thoughts. 

3. Request advice

If the interviewer has time to talk about how you did, ask if they have any feedback they would like to share with you. You can ask if they have any specific comments towards your resume, how you did while answering questions and what you could do to present yourself as a better candidate. 

Asking to receive feedback is good because it helps you to connect with the interviewer and receiving comments live helps you to address any concerns raised in the present moment. Depending on the feedback you receive, you can tackle the situation in a few different ways. If the interviewer explains they talked with other candidates and revealed they had higher skill sets or certifications than you, you can decide how to make your resume more competitive or even pursue those certifications yourself. If the interviewer mentions that you could have been more enthusiastic when asking and answering questions you can work on sounding more upbeat in your next interview.

Asking for feedback may seem hard but it’s not impossible and can only help you improve yourself as a candidate.