My first thought when hearing this question is 'why?'
Why are you getting first interviews and then getting stuck? Without being in the interview, I can't even hazard a guess. (There could be so many reasons from applying for jobs you're not really qualified for, all the way to making a bad first impression for some reason). If it was just one-off, I'd say brush it off and move on, but if it's a pattern, then you need to find out what's happening.
Therefore, my advice is simple: Ask.
When you don't get a second interview, follow up by email or phone and just ask what happened. Make it clear that you're not questioning their decision or trying to change anyone's mind - you're just looking for feedback to help you improve your interviewing skills. Not everyone will answer, but some will and you might get enough information to start making some changes.
Another, perhaps less effective, option is to find someone - a relative or family friend - to interview you and give you feedback. It should be someone who is not close to you personally and the person you choose should have a lot of experience in interviewing and hiring.
Bottom line: Until you find out what's going wrong, you won't be able to fix it.
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Problem with your advice is that companies will NOT give advice or feedback due to fear of being sued! Nuff said!
I think that depends, CK. I went through a very complex interviewing process with one company, and they called me a day or so later to tell me why they weren't going to ask me back (apparently they decided to completely change what they were looking for; too bad they didn't figure that out in advance!)
And as always, it depends on who you talk to. Some people are more guarded than others.
Regardless, it does no harm to ask, as long as the interviewee makes it clear that he or she is not challenging the decision, but looking for information to apply elsewhere.
CK, that's just not true - although there may of course be people who won't tell you.
As a former HR exec, I often gave such feedback and had no problem doing so. Unless I am discriminating against you for some reason, I have nothing to fear from telling you why you didn't get the job.
I do agree with KateNonymous that it's important to let them know you're not challenging their decision.
Just have to pipe in for for CK---depending on the structure of your company, if non-HR department people (for lack of a better description) are giving the interview, they may not be allowed to give feedback for interviews. I've worked for a number of retail companies over the years and while we did all of the interviewing and hiring, we were strictly forbidden from giving non-employees feedback on interviews because of the fear of even SOUNDING like they are unfairly discriminating. That said, it's certainly worth a try.
I agree that it is worth a try but I am not going to bank on it! I have tried before and all I get is "We decided to go with someone else", "You are over-qualified", "You're under-qualified", excuse de jour.
I have to agree with Nichole. At our company, HR does not do the interviews. The interviews are conducted by the management in the department where the position resides. The interviewing is usually a very small part of their job, and they just want to get it done and hire the best person. They are not allowed to discuss the interview with candidates that are not chosen. And quite frankly, they are too busy to do it even if they were allowed.
All good points about why SOME companies won't answer you but guys you can't apply the situation at one company to all companies and then decide that means it's not worth asking! If you get turned down 3 times in a row, that doesn't mean it's not worth asking the fourth time.
The person who asked the question has a problem and we don't have any way of knowing what it is. He/she has only two options - ask, or keep experiencing rejection.
I recommend asking.
My feeling is that you shouldn't ask for feedback if you think that you might want to work for that organization in the future. If you go on a first date, and the guy/gal doesn't call you back after, do you call them and say, "What did I do wrong?" It just makes them uncomfortable and makes you look desperate.
What I would do instead is, right after an interview, jot down some notes about it so you remember the questions that were asked and how you responded. Then, take your notes to someone else in the industry - someone you don't want to work for. Do an informational interview with them and get their honest feedback.
Personally, I think this post needs to be updated, since it's been on the brazencareerist web site since at least October 2008!!!!!!!
Very good advice, I agree. Asking may not yield much in the way of results, but it may yield something, and it doesn't require much ventured, right? But I especially like your suggestion about conducting a mock interview with someone willing to give you feedback--I've been on both sides of mock interviews, and it can be a tremendous help. It's even better if you can videotape or audiotape the mock interview and watch it together!
Is this thread a dupe? Anyhow, posted something on the other thread to this effect:
Ask for feedback at the end of the interview! "Regardless of the outcome of this interview, how could I have interviewed better?"
As soon as the interview is over, it is too late. Your chances of getting back much more than, "we didn't feel you were right for the role," if anything at all, decreases dramatically as soon as you step outside the door.
If this makes the interviewer squeamish, you weren't going to get the job anyway.
Three ways I've been able to receive candid feedback: 1) from small companies (with less rigid/defined HR policies); 2) from contacts who referred me to the hiring manager or other "insiders" that can get around any HR issues. Your contact follows up with the interviewer and usually they get a pretty honest assessment; 3) By working with headhunters/recruiters. They coach you to prepare you for the interview, and give you detailed feedback (down to the level of which questions/answers the interviewer had concerns about).