The time spent waiting after an interview for the news of whether or not you were successful in securing the job is always very difficult, and can be frustrating. Receiving a rejection letter, email or phone call carries a defeat that can feel overwhelming, but it is a time that if you use it wisely, can produce some of your most valuable job seeking information.

After you have received the news that you did not get the position it IS acceptable to ask why you were not the chosen candidate and get some feedback on how you can improve. There is a reason behind the decision and they should be able to guide on what they were looking for. The key to getting successful feedback is the WAY you ask for it, not the fact that you asked for it.

Harvard business school encourages you to: ‘Always write thank you notes immediately after your interview. A brief but enthusiastic thank you letter written soon after the interview can be particularly effective and should be done automatically. The note keeps your name and face fresh in the employer’s mind and expresses your continued interest in the position’. If you have done this and are subsequently rejected, another note to politely ask for feedback on your interview and how you can improve will often yield informative results – and often get you noticed if another role should come up more suited to your strengths.

The key to obtaining successful feedback is:

Return the call, letter or email the way addressed to you. If you got a call, return a call, the same with email and letter. This is usually their preferred method of contact and usually the most effective.

Before you send the letter, email or call, make sure you know what to ask for the information you want to know. If you ask a general question such as, ‘Why was I not successful?’, they will give a simple or generic answer, such as, ‘You lacked the experience’ and end the conversation. This may of course be true but as a new graduate it will be hard to bring out any valuable work experience. Use questions such as, ‘How could I improve my fit to the position?’, or ‘What could I do the improve my chances of success in future positions?’ and try and build on any rapport you have already built. By asking quite specific, open questions the feedback is likely to be more genuine.

Be prepared to hear some things you may not like. If it was down to a personality clash, bad company fit or something more personal, remember, you asked to hear it.

Most of all – be positive, be professional!  If you want to be considered for any other position in the company that may appear, do not approach the feedback as if you’re looking for a fight. Simply and politely ask for FEEDBACK, and not back them into a corner to justify their decision to you. They do not have to justify the decision they made, but the reason they made it will guide you to know how to become a more successful candidate.

This post was courtesy of Free Resume builder.