How to Provide Interview Feedback on Candidates Through Email (With Examples)
How to Provide Interview Feedback on Candidates Through Email (With Examples)
An interview feedback email is sent to a candidate to give them a positive experience during their application journey despite not being hired for the role. Both the employer and the jobseekers can benefit when this feedback on the interview email is written well. Here are a few reasons why it is important to write this kind of email.
It improves your brand Giving feedback to your candidates shows professionalism and respect. When your company pays attention to potential hires, people can only assume that you look out for your employees.
Helps job seekers become better Your feedback on the interview email can give the jobseeker pointers on how to become better candidates. When you give candidates information about their performance during the application, they get valuable insight that will help them with their ongoing job search.
Important news is delivered well The sooner the job seeker is informed that they are no longer in the running for the role you are looking to hire, the better it will be for them. With your news, the jobseeker can have emotional closure and be on their way to seek other opportunities.
Since your email carries sensitive news, make it brief but friendly. Below are a few items we suggest you include.
Thank them for applying Start your feedback on the interview email by thanking the job seeker. Remember that they invested time and effort to present the value they wanted to add to your organisation. Because of this, starting your email by saying thank you is not just a “nice thing to do” but a must-do. At the very least, thank them for giving you the opportunity to get to know them.
Use a “praise sandwich” A praise sandwich is a technique where you deliver criticism between two praise items for the jobseeker. You can start by telling them a positive professional attribute you observed about them. Continue on and tell them about an item you think they can improve on. Be specific as possible to help the job seeker improve on their skill sets. Conclude by encouraging the candidate to continue connecting with you, possibly through your company’s social sites. Though this last portion does not look like a direct praise, simply telling the job seeker that you would like to continue being in touch with them shows you find value in their skills and abilities.
Ask the candidate for feedback In the same way that you are adding value to a jobseeker’s application journey, your company can benefit from receiving feedback. You can ask them to assess the process they went through and what improvements they think should be made. This shows that you hold their opinions in high regard and that you value their insights.
Since it can be difficult to email a job seeker to tell them they’re not getting the job, here is a candidate interview feedback sample email you can use.
Subject line: Your interview with [Company Name] for [Job Title].
Hi [Candidate First Name],
Thank you very much for your time and interest in applying for our [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. We’d like to inform you that we’ve decided to pursue a different applicant for this role.
Our team here at [Company Name] was impressed with [mention a quality you liked about the candidate]. However, for our ideal candidate, we are looking for someone who [mention the quality that the candidate lacked but can improve on]. We will keep a record of your resume with us so please apply and contact us if you believe you qualify for an open position in the future.
Once again, thank you for your interest in working at [Company Name].
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Company Name]Summary
When writing an email to give a candidate feedback on their interview, remember to make it personal and professional. After telling them why you have decided to forward without them, switch the focus to the future of the jobseeker. This will make the feedback on the interview email sound like your way of helping the jobseeker be a standout candidate for potential roles that they will encounter ahead.
When you find this applicant fit for a different role in the future, you may send them an email like this.