Let’s start with the positive. If you are a recent graduate and you have scored an interview for a career position, then regardless of the interview ‘success’, you have ALREADY WON. Within a few interviews, you can feel confident that you will be gainfully employed.

Now, there is plenty of good advice about how to conduct an interview, what to do, what to say, and what not to say. I spend at least half an hour discussing this in the RACI “Understanding the Job Market” video series.

But that’s not what I wanted to talk about in this post. Let’s talk about what happens when you DON’T get the job.

I find it curious that of the many, many interviews I have conducted, I have only twice ever had a candidate ask for feedback.

From my perspective, if you have taken the trouble to apply for a job with me, you deserve a response. That is only professional courtesy. If you have actually come to meet with me, then you deserve the opportunity to get constructive criticism.

Of course, that means that you have to be open to constructive criticism. If I sense the slightest hostility or defensiveness, then I’m obviously going to have to clam up.

Giving a good interview is a skill. It’s one you can practice. And it’s a skill that you can hone. Why not consider asking how?

Here is an interesting LinkedIn post about reasons you may not have got the job: