SmartPulse — our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership — tracks feedback from more than 160,000 business leaders. We run the poll question each Tuesday in our e-newsletter.
Last week, we asked: How candid are you with job applicants when they don’t get the job?
- I’m completely honest with candidates as to the reason they didn’t get the role: 25.44%
- I’m straightforward but a little vague when I tell them the reason they didn’t get the role: 48.6%
- I’m evasive when I tell them the reason they didn’t get the role: 7.02%
- I let Recruiting break the bad news and explain the reason they didn’t get the role: 18.95%
Can we be a little more direct? It’s hard to stomach that 75% of people who interview and don’t get the job really don’t know the reason they weren’t selected. As difficult as it might be to tell them the reason they didn’t get it (poor interview performance, a better candidate, lack of training, etc.), put yourself in their shoes. All they know is they didn’t get it, and they’re wondering how they can perform better next time. We’re all tired of hearing about unemployment numbers — how about we try leading those seeking a job, too? Otherwise, they’re left to their own devices and to reading blog posts about the real reason they didn’t get the job.
Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS and author of “One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership.”