To want to take action after poor and dishonest interview feedback

[quantmum]

The week before last, I had an interview for my ideal job in a highly specialised sector. It seemed to go very well but the institution's HR emailed on Monday to say I didn't get it, but came second so if their first choice didn't take the job, I would be offered it. I was upset, but accepted that a more suitable candidate must have got it.

My feelings changed from disappointment to anger when I asked the HR person if any feedback was available and got a few lines of totally negative comments. The comments are not an accurate reflection of the interview, for example they say that my presentation went over time (it was within the allocated 15 minutes) and that I didn't outline future plans (I did, and as part of the application process I'd to submit a detailed document about future plans).

I really want to take some action as this seems completely unfair and close to libellous. I understand feedback is sometimes worded to justify why someone wasn't offered a job but it's deeply frustrating that the interviewers have put actual lies in writing to me - as well as such a crappy and inconsiderate approach in not giving actual proper feedback - given the application and two-round interview process was extremely demanding.

I've drafted an email refuting the errors in the feedback, but I'm torn between sending that or just a relatively neutral one asking for more detailed feedback and mentioning in passing that I found the feedback confusing.

AIBU to want to send a strongly worded email? Or can anyone advise? I'd made my peace with the outcome and now I'm seriously annoyed. I'm finding it hard to move on as these jobs come up so infrequently and I was waiting years to go for it (although not unemployed in the meantime).

We wouldn’t give feedback like this, it sounds unhelpful at the very least. However Ereyraa has it right above - if you want the gig, seek additional feedback in a more, err, neutral tone.

They've said you were the second choice. In that situation no feedback is necessary - you've done all the right things. You've ticked the 'employable' box. And ticked it well. Why are you trying to sabotage yourself?

Yes I understand what you're saying.

I also have many years of interviewing people and being interviewed, and I've always offered or received feedback by phone or face to face out of consideration for the candidate, and in recognition of the often lengthy and intense application and interview process. In my field there's usually a scoring matrix as well.

From an interviewee perspective, I've found it very helpful to know how I came across, and it's helped me improve the next time - at least then I get some benefit even if I haven't got the job I was going for.

Don't send the strongly worded email but you could ask for more detailed feedback.
Even though you set out next steps they could have meant you didn't explain fully what the steps were or that others explained them better.

You're the reason most companies won't give any feedback at all.

Thank them and move on.

I got feedback from an interview that said I didn’t have enough experience for the role - a role I had been doing in an identical organisation for decades and had been encouraged to apply by the person whose role I was applying for. I did challenge that as it was insulting nonsense. The HR bod was embarrassed and couldn’t explain it so I assumed that was what they said to all the candidates and made a mental note not to apply to them again. Interview is a two-way process and you have learned something about this employer by going through it.

I would leave it. They were scrabbling around for excuses. You might yet get the job.

I had feedback for one job that I was too prepared for the interview! I didn't push back because what? It was just a rushed excuse because I didn't get the job

Keep applying for other jobs.

Ok thank you, I'll just do this. I'm always described as deeply affable, professional and poised (previous interview feedback!) so don't want to sabotage that reputation - and I've never written an angry email in my life.

I suppose the shoddy standards of this feedback have really annoyed me, so I'll just vent to myself!

This is absolutely the right approach.

I understand your frustration OP, but you need to think of the wider picture. If you go in all guns blazing, you won't gain any benefit, you will raise eyebrows & be 'marked' if you ever interview again.

Some interviewers are better than others. I interview quite a lot & hope I do a good job. I take detailed notes, and when asked for feedback, am always able to be clear & (hopefully) constructive.

However I'm an interview panel member. Sometimes feedback goes through the Chair, and some Chairs have been poor & disorganised, I could unfortunately see them giving mixed up & possibly inaccurate feedback like this.

The person being interviewed won't work directly with the Chair so if they reacted as tempestuously as you seem to be, they'd only be cutting their nose off to spite their face and maybe missing out on a good future role.

It's hard OP, but sometimes you've to play the long-game!

I suppose the shoddy standards of this feedback have really annoyed me, so I'll just vent to myself!

YANBU about this OP - I understand your annoyance. I'd be the same. It's just how you choose to react is key.

Too prepared is wildly insulting!
That's what my dh reckons, it was just an immediate defence phrased to justify why I didn't get it.

Honestly, no point. They aren't going to say, "Oh, sorry, you can have the job after all." I've had this and it's bloody annoying, but you have to accept they will hire who they want to hire, and find whatever reasons they need to justify the decision.

Thanks on behalf of interviewees for taking the time to be considerate of the candidates! The consensus here seems to be to just accept it.

I'll go for a long walk and have a think about whether to ask for anything further - their very cursory crappy email was so weird maybe they're not really set up to give (what in my experience is) normal or proper feedback.

It was for a very serious job, and involved rounds of interviews and presentations so I suppose their shoddy standards at the end is what's frustrating. But I will avoid doing anything that might cast me in a negative light.

Do not send that email. Step away from the computer.

If you do, you won't be offered the job if the first candidate pulls out. You'll most likely never be offered a job with that company. And since you work in a highly specialised area, it's quite possible that word could get around if communications with them become ugly or unprofessional.

Like above pp suggested, it's possible your feedback was mixed up with another interviewee. Or perhaps on the day, your presentation did overrun, or you didn't answer their question about future plans sufficiently.

Let this one go (and hope that the successful person pulls out).

I once arrived at an interview to be told by a stressed looking member of my interview panel that they were running very behind and asked me to get my 10 minute presentation down to five minutes.

When I didn’t get the job I asked for feedback and was told I rushed my presentation!!! I didn’t argue with them but it made me feel glad I hadn’t got the job as it was such unreasonable feedback!

There was no positive feedback whatsoever, just four sentences from their HR of things I did 'wrong' in the interviews,

And yet you are also (allegedly) their second choice ?

Be glad they didn't hire you if that's the type of organisation they run. It's a lucky escape OP! You could send an email reiterating your enthusiasm in the job remains should the first candidate drop out and in one very neutral line let them know you're confused about the feedback and perhaps had it gotten sent to the wrong person.

Yes indeed.

I definitely would be in touch with them, thanking them for their feedback but saying that some of it doesn’t quite seem right. Some companies would strike you off the list however if they actually look t your presentation again and see you did fulfill the requirements it would prove you weren’t a walkover. All in how you word your email.

That was my first thought.

As frustrating as that is for you I would suspect that feedback is from the line manager not giving feedback so HR wanting to provide you something as opposed to them being dishonest

If you send the strongly worded email it won't come across well

If you want to send anything I would thank them again for their time and then ask if you could just double check the feedback as you know your presentation was under time but that's all I would do

It's great your second! So many times first don't take the role

I just heard their HR are notoriously bad but it's otherwise a good place to work. I was clearly qualified or I wouldn't have got through rounds of interviews (or be told I was employable, and would be offered the role if first choice dropped out).

There were other details in the feedback suggesting it was intended for me.

But yes, something upbeat thanking the panel again and reiterating my enthusiasm while gratefully welcoming any feedback at their convenience that would help me learn from the experience might be the way to go with this.

Why wouldn't you be angry if they have lied about what happened?

Thank you everyone for some great advice. I'll step away from the computer now and try to have a nice day with my beloved family - and count my blessings while licking my wounds!

I know it was probably just a frustrated desire to vent that made me ever think it would be a good idea to challenge the feedback. I spent weeks living and breathing this whole application/interview process and praying I'd get the job so I guess I was trying to claw something back from it or have some 'closure'.

I often really suffer from lack of confidence and had to be talked into applying as I kept thinking I wasn't good enough to be shortlisted although it really is my dream job. So I've a lot of feelings about it but probably need to move on now after one very mildly written email tomorrow.

Thanks all.

Maybe someone else just had more experience 🤷🏻‍♀️