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Giving feedback after interview

Iwona Nowak

Hello,

I had a couple of interviews recently and I needed to reject all the candidates as they were not suitable for the role. One of the candidates got back to me asking for specific feedback. We felt that he was a great cultural fit, he had relevant experience; however he was nervous throughout the whole interview and didn't ask enough questions about the role itself, the team etc.

What would you advise to say to the candidate? Should I be honest with him and tell him that we felt that he didn't ask enough questions during the interview. Is it appropriate to mention that he was very nervous? 

I would appreciate your comments and advice.

Thanks,

Iwona.

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  • Hi Iwona,

    Personally, I wouldn't like to be a candidate facing your company. In answer to your question; all you can be is honest in feeding back. I would hope you'd tell them the truth.

    You won't overlook nervousness during an interview when someone has relevant experience and is a great cultural fit. Are you looking for the preverbial unicorn? What questions did you expect? Did you/someone else not provide this information (role/team) already?

    You've had to reject ALL the candidates from this process. Is that not telling?

    If I was coaching your candidate through this process (I work in recruitment), and the feedback they got was they didn't ask enough questions, I would tell them they had dodged a bullet from a company with unrealistic expectations.

    Kind regards,
    Laura
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  • Hi Iwona,

    Personally, I wouldn't like to be a candidate facing your company. In answer to your question; all you can be is honest in feeding back. I would hope you'd tell them the truth.

    You won't overlook nervousness during an interview when someone has relevant experience and is a great cultural fit. Are you looking for the preverbial unicorn? What questions did you expect? Did you/someone else not provide this information (role/team) already?

    You've had to reject ALL the candidates from this process. Is that not telling?

    If I was coaching your candidate through this process (I work in recruitment), and the feedback they got was they didn't ask enough questions, I would tell them they had dodged a bullet from a company with unrealistic expectations.

    Kind regards,
    Laura
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  • in reply to Laura Fazackarley
    Just spotted all candidates were rejected.

    I take back my earlier comment about saying another candidate pipped them to the post!

    If this candidate was better than any of the others but missed out due to nerves/not asking enough questions (due to nerves?) , would it be worth getting them back in for a brew with the team/co-workers to see how they are when they are relaxed and not in whats always a stressful situation for even the most confident of people who just hide it better? We've done this, I haven't been present as its been more of a "meet the team" and me being there would change the dynamics but I've caught up with the team afterwards to see what they think.

    I've never been surprised yet that someone who was pretty much shaking like a leaf in an interview is absolutely nothing like that in a 'normal' situation.
  • in reply to Samantha

    "...would it be worth getting them back in for a brew with the team/co-workers to see how they are when they are relaxed and not in whats always a stressful situation for even the most confident of people who just hide it better?"

    Excellent suggestion, Samantha.

  • in reply to Laura Fazackarley

    Hi Laura,

    I have found your comment quite unpleasant and aggressive, you have jumped into conclusions without understanding the full context. First of all, you don't know how many candidates we have interviewed and secondly, you don't know anything about the requirements of the role.


    Kind regards,

    Iwona.

  • in reply to Iwona Nowak
    Hi Iwona - I have to take issue with your suggestion that Laura's comment was "quite unpleasant and aggressive". I rarely comment quite so firmly... but that is completely unjustified in this instance.