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Kacey Toews
July 19, 2019
Newsletter Article
Giving Interview Feedback
Interviewing candidates for an open role is no easy task. Rejecting a candidate that you have interviewed is even more challenging and something most employers dread. Sending a post-interview rejection email is necessary, but have you ever had a candidate respond wanting feedback from their interview? This can be a tricky situation and some employers are left unsure of how to respond next. When giving interview feedback, not only do you risk upsetting the candidate, but you can put your company at a legal risk as well. There are ways to give feedback and keep your reputation without hurting feelings or putting your company at any risk.
Start with the positive!
Just because the candidate was not right for a certain position does not mean they won’t be right for another position elsewhere. Starting off with the positive attributes from the interview will ease the candidates mind when you move on to more constructive and helpful criticisms. Even though they were rejected for the position, being positive boosts the candidate experience with your company.
Watch what you say
It is best to stay very general when giving interview feedback. Going into too much detail may cause the candidate to misunderstand your message. Even with the best intentions, you never know when something you say might be take the wrong way. Keeping your feedback short and sweet will prevent you from going too in depth.
Avoid saying anything in writing
If asked to provide interview feedback to a candidate, it is best to do so by phone. Not only is this more personal, but it can help the candidate understand the message you are getting across and you will have less risk of them misunderstanding the feedback you are giving. This also helps you keep the conversation brief and keep you from having lots of messages back and forth.
Avoid opinions or feelings
Generally, you are speaking on behalf of your employer so keeping any personal opinions or feelings out of the feedback is best. It is wise to stay neutral during the interview process but especially when giving feedback. Having any sort of bias in the interview process and candidate selection can leave your company vulnerable for legal action.
Be respectful
Always remember that your company’s reputation is on the line with every interview you conduct. You are most likely the first person they will interact with in the company, so if they have a bad candidate experience, it could leave them with negative feelings about the company. When giving feedback it is also a good reminder that everyone is human and has feelings, if you must deliver a tough criticism try to craft a message sensitively.
Every company has their preference on how to handle giving feedback to candidates that you have interviewed for a position. It is best to consult your human resources manager and/or legal counsel to create a plan that best works for your organization.
As stated, it can be just as difficult for employers to interview as it is for candidates. Check out our Talent Harvest Interviewing section for more helpful hints during this process. Need to start the process over? Try AgCareers.com next time.
