How to Get Feedback When You're Rejected

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I like your advice about the tone of "voice" when you ask. A job seeker has to be sincere in wanting to know what went wrong. Otherwise, the manager will detect defensiveness and will likely not respond.
Alison, I think you're an exceptional manager the way you take time to help job seekers, even if it's not to your immediate benefit. That's to be admired!

Susan Ireland of CA 11:10AM October 21, 2008

I guess it's worth asking for when you actually get feedback. I've had interviewers tell me to "check out [my] college career center if [I] wanted feedback," implying in a way that it isn't their position or in their interest to do so (which frankly, I know it really isn't). If I was motivated enough to ask them directly and politely for their personal opinion, don't you think I would've exhausted all other resources prior to asking? Maybe that's a bit of a stretch for someone to assume...

Camille of VA 9:47AM October 21, 2008

While I agree with you about asking for feedback, I find myself asking for it less and less. I do all you say, including the sincere thank you when they respond, but almost always either receive no response or something so vague as to be unhelpful ("We had so many great applicants", etc.). I actually had a person respond to my email inquiry the other day by saying that I had so many great program ideas, could I please email those to her, along with others I might have, but no, you just aren't the right "fit" for the job! So I've pretty much given up on the feedback thing, unless it is an interview I felt went very well.

Discouraged Employee Wannabe of PA 11:48PM October 20, 2008