How to Ask for Feedback After an Interview

Interviews are one of the best learning experiences available when job hunting. Whether you get the job or not, asking for feedback after an interview can give you useful information about how you’re perceived, what questions you answered well, and areas where you can improve.

To make the most of the opportunity, ask the person who interviewed you for feedback politely and at the right time — whether it’s after you receive the employer’s final decision, or during the interview process so you can improve for the next round.

Example email asking for interview feedback

Here’s a feedback request email written by a candidate who applied for a business analyst position. Their message is courteous and starts by expressing their gratitude for the opportunity, even though they weren’t successful.

Why should you ask for feedback after an interview?

Here are the top reasons why you should request feedback from your interviewer:

1. To understand what you did well

Asking your interviewers for feedback after the interview will help you understand what different employers want from a candidate. This can help you walk into future interviews more prepared.

Additionally, the feedback you receive will give you insight into your value as a candidate, which can benefit you in other aspects of your career, from professional development to salary negotiations.

2. To learn how you can improve

Your interviewer likely has experience interviewing a wide range of candidates, meaning they can provide valuable information on how you can improve your interview skills and overall professional skillset.

Asking for feedback is an opportunity to identify areas of improvement so that you can work on them before your next interview, or even apply them in your current role.

Willingness to learn is also one of the best ways to get ahead in your career and something that sets good employees apart from great employees. There’s always something to learn from other professionals in your field.

3. To express interest in the company

Even if you didn’t get the job this time, another position might open up at the company in the near future. In this case, you’ll want the employer to remember that you’re interested in the position.

One way to ensure you make a memorable impression is to express passion for the company and a willingness to learn.

When you ask for feedback, interviewers see it as a sign that you’re serious about the job and interested in understanding why you weren’t the best match for the company at this moment.

4. To gain information on the competition

You might do everything right, from highlighting your top skills to acing tricky behavioral interview questions, and still get rejected because of the tough competition.

Every interview is an opportunity to gain information on your competitors and what qualities they have that employers are looking for. Asking for feedback is a great learning experience that can increase your chances of showing employers you’re a good fit in future interviews.

How to ask for feedback after an interview

The best way to ask for feedback is with an email. Here are a few tips on how to politely request feedback from an interviewer:

Use a clear, concise subject line

Avoid using a vague subject line that could result in your email being ignored. Make the goal of your email clear in the subject line by using a phrase that makes your intention clear.

Here’s a good example of an interview request subject line:

Request for interview feedback

An interviewer reading this subject line will know instantly what the email is about.

Thank the interviewer for their time

Interviewers are busy people, so show your appreciation by thanking them for their time in your feedback request email (even if you didn’t get the job).

This is a show of courtesy and professionalism and increases your chances of receiving a positive response from the interviewer.

Ask what you could’ve done differently

If the employer decided to hire someone else, request input on what you could have done differently in the interview.

Instead of asking a general question, try to get feedback on specific parts of the conversation or your experience. For example, you could ask about the clarity of your answers, the strength of your qualifications relative to other candidates, or even how you could have better demonstrated a specific skill.

Your goal is to learn from an unfortunate experience and improve your interview skills. You can only do this if you make an effort to learn what areas you need to work on.

Keep your email brief

A brief email is more likely to receive a response than an email that includes unnecessary details and a long list of questions.

Our data showed that 33% of hiring managers ghost candidates because they are overwhelmed by the high volume of applications, meaning that many don’t have the time to respond to feedback requests.

Keeping your feedback request short, low-pressure, and easy to answer makes it much easier for a busy hiring manager to reply. State your purpose for sending the email in the first line, and make it clear what kind of feedback you’re looking for.

Be respectful

You’re asking for a favor, so keeping your language polite is important.

The interviewer isn’t obliged to give you feedback, but you improve your chances of getting a reply by being respectful. Avoid making it seem like you expect an immediate and lengthy response.

Interview feedback FAQs

If you’re still not sure about some aspects of asking for feedback after an interview, here are some answers to commonly asked questions:

When should I ask an interviewer for feedback?

The best time to ask for feedback is after you’ve received the final decision because then you have closure and context.

You can also ask for feedback during the interview process after each round to see if there are areas you can improve upon for the next stage. Send your request within twenty four hours of the interview so your responses are still fresh in the interviewer’s mind.

Who should I request interview feedback from?

You should request interview feedback from the person you interviewed with.

If you went through several interviews or interviewed with multiple people, pick one person to send your request email to. If your interviewers find out you emailed all of them with the same request, they might think you’re wasting their time.

What should I do if the company doesn’t respond?

If you don’t receive a response after one request, send a polite follow-up email. If you still don’t hear back, move on to other opportunities, as some companies have policies against providing feedback.

What should I avoid when asking for feedback after an interview?

Avoid trying to change the interviewer’s mind when asking for feedback after an interview. This comes off as disrespectful and increases the likelihood that you won’t get a response.

What if I was offered the job?

Even if you get the job, the interview process is still a learning experience.

If you got the job but still want to learn more about how you came across in the interview, you can send a follow-up email after your interview expressing gratitude and requesting details about your performance.

Other interview resources

Here are some additional resources to help you breeze through your next interview: