Emailing interviewers after being rejected

I interviewed for a position last week with two VPs. I thought it went extremely well and they were even looking for two Analysts. Unfortunately, I got a automated rejection email this morning from HR thanking me for interviewing and they are moving on with other candidates. I really want to know why I did not get this. I was more than qualified and they seems to love me. Only thing I can think of is they seemed kind of hesitant with me wanted out of my current job after only 8 months and before that my first job was 1.5 years. However, I am only 2.5 years out of school so two jobs isn’t a huge red flag.

Would it be appropriate to email one or both thanking them again and asking for constructive criticism? The one guy even said he encourages all people he interviews with to email for a coffee regardless and stay in touch.

This is not IB btw. It was for a RE position.

4 Comments
 

I don't see the harm in emailing them. Worst case is that they don't answer back, which is completely fine and probably won't hurt you in any way. In the best case, you will receive a response. At the end of the day, you won't really lose much by emailing them. Even if you decide to reapply to the same firm at a different time, they probably won't even remember that they didn't answer your email.

 
Best Response

You had your chance to ask for constructive criticism before it was too late. It's always a good idea to ask your interviewer before its over if there's anything about your profile that gives them pause to hire you. This post reads like you don't handle rejection well. The guy who gets dumped after a first date and emails the girl asking what he did wrong. The opportunity didn't work out. Move on with dignity. Don't put them in the awkward position of having to justify their decision via email. It won't undo the decision, and it won't reflect well on you. Who knows when your paths may cross again?

What you can do: email to say thank you for the opportunity. If you plan to follow through, also tell the interviewer you intend to take him up on his offer to stay in touch and then reach back out to him in a few months for that coffee meeting. As long as it's not obvious it's your only motivation to meet, that would be the appropriate place to casually revisit the process and ask for any feedback on your profile or your interview skills. You may find out it had nothing to do with you at all, but you'll never know for sure. Learn to live with the uncertainty. If they really liked you that much then maintaining the connection could prove valuable in some way down the line.

All that said, there are a million reasons why a qualified candidate may not get hired for a given role. That you can only identify one implies you don't understand this fact of life.

Sorry you didn't get the job. Plenty of other fish in the sea!

 

Yeah email them. It works sometimes.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - National Rifle Association

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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