How to Ask for Feedback After an Interview (With Examples)

Updated 1 May 2023

Asking the employer for feedback after an interview can benefit your personal growth and allow you to improve your interview skills for the future. This usually increases your motivation and helps you to visualise a beneficial career path. Understanding how to develop your professionalism can impress future employers with your personality and skill set. In this article, we review how to ask for feedback after an interview, explore the benefits of requesting feedback and provide examples of how you can request feedback.

How to ask for feedback after an interview

Learning how to ask for feedback after an interview can benefit your career growth. Here is a simple guide you can follow when professionally asking for feedback:

1. Say thank you

Thanking the employer for their time can maintain a professional relationship and encourage them to contact you with future job openings. It might be worth saying thank you over the phone or via email, depending on how the employer notified you. This civility can set a positive tone when conversing with the employer about your feedback.

2. Be courteous

If you want to request feedback from the employer, it can help to stay courteous in your manner. Speaking in a polite tone and explaining your reasoning behind requesting feedback might earn you a dedicated response. The employer might not have time to offer extensive improvements, so perhaps consider writing notes just after your interview about how they responded to your answers. Maintaining a polite attitude can also benefit your career with other employers.

3. Explain your request

Once you have set a positive tone, you can begin to state your reasons for the feedback request. You might want to know more about your performance and how you answered questions or how you expressed your personality in the interview. Providing a logical reason can help the employer understand why you're contacting them.

4. Show your gratitude

After providing a reason for your feedback request, you can express your final gratitude for the interview. It may be worth mentioning your favourite part about the interview and how it benefited you. Talking about the best aspects of the company can show the employer that you're still interested and may apply for other open positions. Maintaining a professional reputation can help you grow in your career path.

5. Consider the feedback

Listening to the employer's expertise and applying this to future interviews can increase your chances of getting a job. They may have preferred someone with more qualifications and work experience. This may encourage you to research relevant degrees in your chosen area. Gaining constructive criticism can guide you in your next career move.

The benefits of feedback after an interview

Knowing how to ask for feedback after an interview in a way that gets you a response can have many benefits for your career development. How you apply what you learn from this feedback to any future job interviews will depend on the areas of improvement that you need to make. Here are some examples of how receiving feedback can be beneficial:

Improves performance

Understanding how to strengthen your interview skills can eventually improve your performance when approaching an employer. This can also benefit your work performance, as you can appreciate your own value and expand your knowledge of the business. You may even notice minor changes in your behaviour and the way you think once you apply feedback to your lifestyle.

Increases motivation

Employers usually offer positive feedback alongside constructive criticism after an interview. This can encourage you to pursue other jobs in the same field, so you may want to use your increased motivation to find a role that is better suited to you. For example, the employer may have chosen another candidate who is a better fit for the company culture, so it may be worth researching the company beforehand to gain an understanding of how they function as a team.

Helps you grow

Improving your interview style can lead to personal growth, as it can help you be constantly aware of how you interact with professionals. Hearing about your demeanour from another perspective can give you better insight into how you react in interview situations. Opportunities may arise for personal development, such as volunteer work, mock interviews, training sessions, online courses and helpful videos that can provide you with information on how to express your personality. Listening to feedback can also boost your confidence.

Expands your network

Some employers may suggest other positions in the company or organisations that may better suit your background. Following this suggestion can give you the chance to grow your network and meet new professionals in the same industry which can often lead to a job offer. Responding to the employer politely may encourage them to connect with you on a business level and discuss further opportunities. Networking can be a successful method for finding employment opportunities when approaching the workspace.

Helps you understand the competition

Understanding why the employer chose another candidate can help you learn about their skills and experience. They may have beneficial skills that you lack, certifications to prove their passion, extended education or a work ethic that matches the company's team. These are aspects you can work on before applying for the next position. Filling your resume with experience and qualifications can increase your chances of impressing future employers.

Leads to further accomplishments

When you get constructive feedback, it can encourage you to achieve your career goals. This can lead to further study, practice or other accomplishments that you can state on your resume. After receiving feedback from the employer, you can write a list of goals that you would like to achieve over the next few months. This can be a great way to improve your application and maintain a positive attitude.

Helps you develop specific skills

The employer may suggest learning more skills to include on your resume, as this can attract other employers and showcase your abilities. For example, a company might work with modern technology and seek candidates with strong technical skills. This can be a chance for you to develop new skills that will suit a similar job vacancy, or it can help you find other areas you may be passionate about.

Related: Guide: 16 Personality Types

Examples of how to ask for feedback after an interview

It is helpful to learn about the different ways you can approach an employer to ask for feedback. Even though contacting the employer the same way they contacted you is the usual procedure, if you contacted them first, this doesn't always apply. Below are some examples of how you can ask for feedback after an interview:

Over the phone

If you decide to call the employer, it can be a good idea to arrange a suitable time for them. This can ensure they think about their response and offer more detailed feedback. It may also leave them with a positive impression of you if you talk to them personally.

Example: 'Hi, I just wanted to ask if you could provide me with feedback after the interview we had. This might help me in future interviews and allow me to strengthen certain areas. Thank you again for taking the time to interview me and talk to me about your company. I very much enjoyed hearing about your latest project.'

Via email

Most employers communicate with candidates via email, as this can encourage them to think about their responses beforehand. Emailing the employer might give them time to consider your request and form a detailed feedback report. It is a good idea to always proofread your email to maintain professionalism.

Example:

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you so much for interviewing me and sharing more details about your company. I really appreciate the time and effort. I'm just emailing to ask if you could offer feedback after that interview, such as what areas I could improve and how I might answer questions differently next time. Thanks again for reviewing my application and calling me into the office. I really enjoyed hearing about your new marketing project and I'm looking forward to seeing it in a few weeks.

I understand if you don't have time to send feedback to candidates! That interview provided me with beneficial experience and knowledge for my career.

Thank you,

Emily Rowan

How to Ask for Feedback After an Interview (With Examples)