So I know people have asked similar questions before, but I couldn't find anything that was like my situation here.
I had a superday last week for a FLDP program. I had three hour-long interviews over the day and then lunch, etc. The first interview was a fit interview with a current analyst in the program. We had a great conversation and at the end of the interview she told me that I would be a great fit and all I had to do was do well on the case interview and I should be fine. I had a behavioral interview next, which went fine, but nothing special. Then I had the case interview. I thought it was easy and my interviewer was giving me really great feedback the whole time. At the end he complimented me on how well I did, and then we just talked for the remainder of the interview time.
On friday I got the call...I didn't get the offer. I was quite surprised because all of my feedback throughout the day was very positive. The caller was just an HR person, so I was given no explanation for why I wasn't selected.
My question is, how can I follow up with the interviewers to get some feedback? Is it acceptable to send an email asking for an explanation? At this point I feel like I have nothing to lose, so I might as well try, but what would be the best way to go about asking them?
Speaking from experience of being in the same situation, there is absolutely no problem with following up or asking for feedback.
I would simply send a quick thank you note to the interviewers, saying you enjoyed the chat, etc. but that unfortunately you were just told that you did not get the offer. Then simply ask (very politely) if they might be able to give you some personal feedback on your performance - DON'T outright ask for an explanation such as "why didn't I get the offer" ...
In my case, the interviewer actually called me back with detailed feedback from his point of view and the general opinion of others too, which of course I was extremely grateful for and which helped me in future interviews.
It's generally okay to ask for feedback. Usually you have nothing to lose anyway.
Unless you were in my situation. I had just gone through first round interviews at an elite boutique. I hit it off with one of the interviewers who said to make sure to reach out to him with any questions. The HR person called me a few days later to reject me. I asked her for feedback. She was very vague and unhelpful. So I e-mailed the interviewer and asked. The HR person found out I e-mailed him and was apparently very offended. She called me to chide me for supposedly trying to continue a process she already told me was over; she said she was taken aback by my unprofessional attempt to pull rank on her.
Needless to say, I was dumbfounded and have no hope of ever interviewing at that boutique again.
I hope it wasn't that you had no more hope but instead the fact that you would have no desire to work at a place with such a dumb HR person. I think the HR person was just angry because you made her realize that she serves no purpose at all in giving vague and unhelpful feedback.
Exactly what the other people have said. I tell everyone I know that it's mandatory that they ask why they did or did not get the offer. I think it's important to learn from your mistakes and realize that there's always interview questions and techniques that you can improve on.
JD to IB: That's an incredibly weird situation. I can't understand why the HR person was mad at you for conducting your own private business?
Thanks for the insight! I'm going to email them tomorrow morning. Hopefully the HR rep won't freak out on me like in your situation, JDtoIB. But so far everybody has been really nice, so I don't anticipate that happening
Go for it, for sure...
Another question,
Should I ask if there is anything I can do to stay in the running for the position (such as additional interviews/testing)? Or should I just ask for feedback and let it be?
Vitae nihil sint alias ex est assumenda similique. Nemo eius eius libero vitae voluptate vitae sit a. Voluptatem et dolores odio et eos. Quia incidunt quos molestiae numquam. Neque aperiam consequatur mollitia natus suscipit illum perspiciatis.
Culpa iste quo molestias inventore voluptatem. Aliquam libero tenetur in cupiditate. Expedita et dolor enim nesciunt mollitia pariatur. Id quisquam non nulla repudiandae suscipit.
Nesciunt earum voluptatem voluptatem aut aut non ex autem. Libero voluptatum dolorum in eum harum magnam. Tenetur cum et aperiam perspiciatis non quam non. Fugiat qui aut qui. Consequatur et autem odio aut.
Qui alias aliquam quis. Repellendus in qui aut. Et dolores ullam ut aut fuga molestias.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...