Why Don’t They Provide Feedback?

by Dolores Florentino

Originally published at Philippine Home-Based Virtual Assistants

Applying for a job is really exhausting much more to find the right position to apply. What’s worst is that you prepared for it, only to receive an email that your application will no longer pursue and they are moving on with other candidates. That is really painful.

But we all know that this is part of the process, one thing a candidate would like to know is the reason why they failed, and mostly this part of the feedback is not being provided.
I have been receiving questions about this, and I drew it upon myself to research and share the answers to most people who have this question in mind.

Disclaimer: I am no HR Practitioner, I just want to share this information with you based on my research.

Here are some reasons why employers don’t provide feedback to rejected applicants or candidates.

1. Employers are not legally obliged to disclose the reason why a candidate failed, hence they can choose not to provide the reasons thereof.

If you applied for a position and received an email telling you that your application will no longer be processed, think of it that probably:

a) You are not the right fit for the position

b) You are not able to provide the correct details necessary for the position applying for

c) You have provided everything, but you were found to be over-qualified

d) Either they already have a priority candidate in mind

2. Employers have limited time to attend to your request for feedback.

It is understandable that there will be numerous applicants applying for a 1-one position. In essence, this is a contest of the best of the best. If the employers do not find your application papers appealing enough and lack the convincing prowess to offer your services to them, chances are they might jump into the next candidate.

Or, better yet, if they found out that you do not know how to follow instructions, this will greatly affect your application no matter how impressive your application is. So remember to be keen to details and to read the instructions point to point.

According to survey results obtained in their annual candidate experience survey, The Talent Board1 found that feedback during the screening and interviewing process falls short when:

53.5% of job candidates receive no feedback after the screening and interviewing stage.
69.7% of candidates receive no feedback after being rejected during the screening and interviewing stages of their candidacy.

“And while subjective, of those candidates who said they received feedback after being rejected, 77.3% said the feedback wasn’t useful. But, 53.7% said they were encouraged to apply again for another job.”

I agree, that receiving vague feedback is not really helpful as it does not provide the area of your weakness, the only thing we will do is to just think, we have done something wrong.

Employers who craft a more humane type of a rejected email can be done with the use of the technology now, only some are not really accustomed to it, as they think that it will be additional work. To this extend I agree, however, this will be a great value to share with a candidate who failed as it will help boost their confidence to keep going and to gain the opportunity to improve himself to shine and be a good candidate.

This will also create a great experience to candidates, and will give them high spirits to go on and remain positive. On the other hand, if companies or employers do not think of this way and do not provide information on why the candidate did not make it, it can either make them feel depressed or frustrated and might just give up and ends up to feel looser.

As applicants, we should also see to ourselves that before applying, we have to check thoroughly the details and ask yourself the following questions:

– do I have the qualities they are looking for

– do I meet the requirements

– can I perform the responsibilities

– do I have enough experience

– am I not wasting my time for this position

We do not want to be a nuisance candidate, so, let us not allow ourselves to be treated this way. Let us assess ourselves first before they do, if you see that you are not happy with your own assessment, then follow your instinct, DO NOT APPLY, move forward and find a more suitable position designed for you.

So from now on, study your strategy, be prepared to be rejected, then move on to another job application. The key here is, KNOW YOURSELF, apply only to what you think you are comfortable, you believe in, and passionate to grow professionally.

DON’T GIVE UP and keep going!