Avoid Defensiveness When Receiving Recruitment Feedback

Avoid Defensiveness When Receiving Recruitment Feedback






Looking for work isn't easy and if you get to the interview stage with a recruitment agency or employer but don't get the job try to avoid being defensive when receiving feedback. There are other jobs out there and you also want to maintain a positive relationship for the future. This is the fourth tip of five concerning receiving feedback after a job interview either as an external job application or internal candidate.

In a recruitment context most feedback that you will be offered will take place after a decision has been made so it's pointless to argue your case or try to change the mind of the person giving you the feedback.  The time to make your case was at the interview itself, and it's human nature to sit in a feedback session wondering what you could have done that would have been better but there's plenty of time for that later. You'll probably find that some of the things that you thought went well weren't the same things that the interviewer or employer found impressive. This is important information and unlikely to continue if you get defensive.

You may find that you and the interviewer have very different ideas of what constitutes a mistake, and it's only natural to feel a bit resentful if they've turned you down for what you see as trivial reasons. The important thing if this scenario crops up is to not get defensive and take any criticism personally. If the feedback is for a job interview and you already know that you're not going to get the job, you're not in a position to debate the decision. But in some circumstances you will have another chance to make your case when, for example, you apply for another job with the same employer or recruitment agency and it's in those circumstances that it's particularly important to take criticism well. Remember, it's not personal. If there's anything you don't agree with, ask for more details but do not make the interviewer uncomfortable.

Also remember that many people use the feedback session as additional evaluation - to decide whether or not to keep your application on record for a different job - you therefore want to position yourself as open, analytical and interested in self development. This outlook can only help you.

 

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