Desde HBR

What to Ask Candidates Who Decline Your Job Offer

Every company gets rejected by job candidates, and you’re missing a big opportunity if you don’t ask these people why they did it. The next time you get a “No, thank you” call or email, explain that there are no hard feelings and dig deeper for more information. Focus on questions like:

• What did you see as the positive aspects of the role?
• What were your concerns about the role?
• What were the most important factors in the decision you made?
• What feedback or suggestions do you have about your interviews, interviewers, and the interview process itself?
• Can you provide feedback or suggestions for the hiring manager, human resources, or the organization overall?

These conversations might be awkward, but if you don’t solicit feedback from people you’ve interviewed, they may give that feedback publicly, like on a website such as Glassdoor.

Adapted from “Why You Should Interview People Who Turn Down a Job with Your Company,” by Ben Dattner