Didn't Get Hired? Should You Ask Why?

Finding a job opportunity is exciting, especially if it's right up your alley. But after the basic application process and the interviews, you don't get the call back. For most Pinoy employees, this simply means they didn't get the job. After all, hiring for many companies in the Philippines is built on the we'll-call-you-don't-call-us routine. But in case you're wondering what went wrong, it is quite possible (and okay) to ask the employer why they didn't give the job to you.

Here are some reasons why you should ask why you didn't get hired:

- you need to know what qualifications you lack
- you need to know what the other candidate (whom they hired) has that you don't
- you need to know the kind of qualifications you need to acquire
- you need to know how to improve yourself to increase your chances of getting hired the next time around

If you don't get the call back, don't just chalk it up as an unfortunate event or shrug it off and say, 'it's their loss, not mine.' It will be your loss if you don't learn from the experience. So how do you ask?

Make your intentions known.
It would help if you let it be known that you would like to be informed in case you didn't get the job. That way, you'll find out if informing candidates who didn't pass is part of the HR's practice. If it isn't, ask how long the period would be until a replacement is found and then ask if it's all right for you to call them to inquire about your application.

Call your interviewer.
The person who interviewed you is likely to be the boss of the department to which you are applying. If you want direct answers, ask them for information why you weren't hired.

Call HR.
Probably the most useful department to call in case you want to ask why you weren't hired is Human Resources. Even if the decision maker is a manager from another department, the HR could still be privy to the reasons why they didn't pick you. (Emphasis on 'could' because sometimes HR isn't informed of the real reason why) You could call, ask whom to talk to regarding a review about your application and then ask to speak to that person.

If you worked with a job placement agency, call your contact person and ask them why your qualifications didn't make the cut. They'll be more than happy to inform you and advice you on what you should do in the future.

Send an e-mail.
If you're a bit shy or unsure about how to go about the whole process, you can always send an e-mail to the HR department, your interviewer or your contact person. Include your name, the position you applied for, the date of your interview/s and with whom. Inform them that you didn't get hired but would like to know why. Be businesslike. Don't whine or sound defensive. Remember that as a job applicant, you have the right to be informed why the opportunity wasn't given to you.

It would also help if you mention that you would like the information to help you identify your weaknesses so you could do better the next time.

Be ready for anything.
In the Philippines, some companies will inform you why you got beaten out of the position automatically as part of their hiring procedures while other companies won't. I once applied for a job with a publishing company -- a job I was excited about. I passed the test, got interviewed but hit a snag when the interviewer asked me about my current salary. She seemed disappointed that I was making that much already (which wasn't much, by the way). I assured her I was willing to negotiate (read: bring the figure lower -- stupid, I know but it was the job I was after. The remuneration was just a second priority).

The interview ended and I was assured they'd just call. So a week went by, two weeks... no call. Of course, that meant I didn't get hired. But I was so blinded by my longing for that job that I called the company anyway. The woman at the other end of the line said that they hadn't made a decision yet and that they'd just call.

So another week went by and since I was makulit, I called again. The woman at the other end seemed pissed that I had to ask for information about the job. She said that if they wanted to hire me, they'd call me and that's that. She didn't even tell me if they'd already hired someone. She said it so harshly that she killed my spirit for a few days.

Oh well... should've known better, though. To make the long story short, I didn't get the job of course and went on to pursue another career.

So if you do ask, don't sound hostile or desperate (like I did). It's a simple process, after all but be ready for what you're about to hear.

Prepare a few detailed questions.
Don't turn your conversation into an hour-long discussion of your qualities. The person at the other end of the line has work to do and all those questions from you are probably making him loose his patience. He's probably nodding to himself and thinking, 'Now I understand why this person didn't get hired in the first place.' So anyway, if you want to get something useful from your inquiry, ask a few pointed questions. Some examples:

= what skills do I lack that didn't qualify me for this position?

= do you prefer someone with ___ degree/education/training/certification?

= since you're looking for someone with excellent communication skills (or any other skills), did my present speaking and writing skills prevent me from getting the job?

= may I ask what your assessment of me is as a job candidate? (Tricky question but if you get an honest reply, it can be very helpful. Again, just be ready. And whatever you might hear, no matter how hurtful or surprising, don't lash back or try to defend yourself.)

= did I have mannerisms that seemed inappropriate?

= what mistakes during the interview do you think I should correct?

Don't ask accusatory questions or things that would put the hiring manager on the spot. After all, companies don't want to be charged of discrimination or unfair hiring practices. Make sure everything is businesslike and professional. And remember to make it short. The person you're talking to is already either super bored or breaking out in cold sweat.

Now that you know how to get in touch with your could've-been employer, here's the cold, hard truth about what you can expect:

When you call or send an e-mail, the most common reply you'll get is this: 'I'm sorry, you did not qualify for the job.' or something to that effect. If you prod further, the person at the other end of the line will probably tell you stuff like, you don't have the right education, training or background or that they preferred someone with more experience.

It's rare to get an answer that is useful for your purpose. Why? Because HRs and hiring managers prefer to play it safe and would rather be polite than hurt your feelings. It could also be that they really don't know or understand the reason why.

Or maybe the reason is simply discriminatory -- you're married and the guy they hired is single (meaning, he can be sent anywhere at any time without hearing a peep out of him) or that you're overqualified (meaning that you're older and likely to ask for more in terms of compensation) or that you're a woman (and they'd rather give the job to a man because the industry you're applying into is male-dominated).

My point here is that if you don't land the job, it's okay to ask why you weren't hired. Just make sure you:

- ask the right person.
- ask the right questions.
- don't expect earth-shattering revelations.
- learn from what they tell you and not use it as an excuse to defend yourself, harangue them on the phone, send them e-mails accusing them of discrimination or stupidity for not hiring you or starting a blog designed to put the company down.

If it's feedback you wanted, that's what you're going to get. Learn from this, improve whatever needs to be improved and move on.