Introduction
Whether you're interviewing for a new job or an internship, hearing back from an interviewer can be nerve-wracking. You put your best foot forward, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. That's why it's important to keep your head up, consider what went wrong and continue moving forward with confidence. Here are some things to consider when you get negative feedback—or no feedback at all—from an interview:
Don't panic.
It's important not to panic when you're given negative feedback. You may feel like you want to scream or cry, but do your best not to let your emotions get the best of you. If an interviewer criticizes your work performance or personality, don't say anything that will make things worse--even if they are completely wrong!
If they criticize something that is true (e.g., "I'm not very good at selling myself"), then address those points directly and explain how they can be improved upon in future interviews with other companies or positions within this company itself.
Be professional.
Respond to the interviewer's feedback in a professional manner. Thank them for their time, and let them know that you appreciate the opportunity to interview with their company.
Be polite: Don't get defensive and don't argue with what they said about you or your skillset. If there are parts of their feedback that feel unfair or wrong, keep those thoughts to yourself! You don't want to come across as argumentative during this conversation because it could hurt how they feel about hiring someone like you again in the future.
Don't be overly emotional: It's okay if this interaction makes you sad or angry--but try not to let those emotions show on your face during the call (or worse yet, during another follow-up phone call). If an interviewer tells me something negative about my performance during an interview process, I never respond by saying things like "I'm really disappointed" or "that really hurts my feelings." Instead I'll say something like "Thank you so much for sharing with me; I appreciate hearing what went well during our time together."
Understand why you didn't get the job.
It's important to understand why you didn't get the job. If you can learn from the feedback, then it will help you in future interviews and employment opportunities.
Ask for feedback: The interviewer should be willing to share some positive and constructive criticism with you if asked politely.
Ask if you were a good fit: You could also ask whether your personality or skillset was aligned with what they were looking for in an employee at this time. Maybe there were other candidates who were better suited for this position than yourself? Or maybe there was something else about your application that did not impress them enough--and if so, what could be done differently next time around?
Don't take it personally.
Don't take it personally.
It may be tempting to feel hurt or insulted when the interviewer gives you negative feedback, but don't let your emotions get in the way of what needs to be done: listening and learning from the experience. Remember that this is a business transaction and not a personal one. You can't control what other people think of you, so don't waste time trying to change their minds or gain their approval--it won't work anyway! The best thing for both parties involved (you included) is if everyone keeps an open mind throughout this process so they can get back on track as soon as possible with no hard feelings between them.*
Consider what you could have done better.
After you've taken a few days to reflect on your interview and how it went, consider what you could have done better. You might have forgotten to mention an important accomplishment or skill in your resume, or perhaps there was something about your cover letter that didn't come across as well as it could have.
If this is the case, then now is the time for self-reflection! Ask yourself these questions:
What skills do I want employers to know about me?
How can I best communicate those skills through my resume, cover letter and references (if applicable)?
You can always learn from your mistakes, even if it means changing careers or taking another position within your industry.
If you weren't offered the job, don't take it personally. You can always learn from your mistakes, even if it means changing careers or taking another position within your industry. If this is the case, consider what you could have done better and use it as motivation for future interviews.
Conclusion
I hope that you've learned a few tips for how to handle negative feedback from an interview. Remember, this is an opportunity for you to learn from your mistakes and find better ways of doing things in the future. Be sure not to take any criticism personally--after all, it's not about who you are as a person but rather what skillset they need at this time!