Interview feedback: applying constructive criticism


by NES Group - Date: 2007-11-28 - Word Count: 524 Share This!

Interview feedback can be an effective learning curve for those who request it, but job seekers often underestimate its value. To gain the greatest benefit from feedback, listen carefully and take the response on board. A critique of your performance is a personalised tool that can be used to develop your personal self, providing valuable tips for your continued development. Requesting post interview follow up demonstrates high levels of enthusiasm as well as professionalism and offers you the potential to improve.

Your recruitment consultant is able to provide guidance throughout the recruitment process, including the provision of post-interview advice. By debriefing your consultant after the interview you can recount the progress of the interview and gain valuable support moving forward.

Recruitment consultants at NES have extensive experience in understanding why certain questions have been asked and what impressions your responses may have given. Your consultant can also contact the client with any follow up information should you feel something vital was left out in the interview that could affect your success. If you are offered the job, your consultant will coordinate the hiring process by arranging any subsequent interviews, negotiating salary, establishing a starting date and resolving any open questions for you or the client.

Obtaining feedback is an excellent way to assess where you could improve in preparation for the next phase, should you be required to attend a second interview or assessment day. Your recruitment consultant can provide support and advice based on this feedback to ensure you maximise your chances of success at the second stage of the recruitment process.

If you are conducting your own job search and you are turned down it is your own responsibility to chase the interviewer to find out why you were unsuccessful. Some interviewers feel too uncomfortable about making negative comments and will not offer any constructive criticism but by using an agency, feedback will be offered as part of the service. Seek this as soon after the interview as possible so that the interviewer does not forget the specifics of your application. Without clarity you will find it much more difficult to make use of feedback.

When obtaining feedback from an unsuccessful application, thank the person for their time, remaining positive and enthusiastic about the job and the organisation. Convey your disappointment and the fact that this was a position you really wanted. Don't get defensive or start arguing your case for the job - the decision has been made and this is your opportunity to learn from this experience. Let them know you are still interested if another opportunity should arise as the person they hire may leave for some reason. Make notes on the points they raise - you can review these later and identify your mistakes. If the interviewer offers some good advice on where to look to improve your skill set then take note.

Do not allow being turned down to undermine your future confidence; use it as a learning experience. The process of feedback is not to attack you as an individual, but to reflect on less desirable traits you may have exhibited and support ongoing learning and performance improvement through increased self-awareness.

Related Tags: advice, interview, performance, support, preparation, feedback, criticism, recruitment consultant, critique

NES is a leading global technical recruitment business providing professionally qualified contract staff to blue chip clients across the world in the oil and gas, infrastructure, rail, power and IT sectors. Founded in 1978, a committed workforce has facilitated the company's success and continues to ensure that NES experiences ongoing growth in terms of customers, geography and sector. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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