How come job interviewers/recruiters never really tell you why they don't want you?

Question

Scenario: A person interviews for a job position and does really well. In fact, s/he does so well that s/he advanced to the third and fourth stages of the interview process. However, after the third (or fourth) interview, s/he gets rejected. The person asks the recruiter (or human resources person) why s/he was rejected, and the recruiter never really gives an honest answer. Why is that?

Is it because they are afraid of possible lawsuits? If that is the answer, then my response is: Please! Who will spend the time and money to get a lawyer to sue a company that s/he hardly knows? Job searchers just want to know what they can do better about his or her situation and improve it, if possible. That is all.

Answer 1

Slander. If you do really well and pass a few interviews with the same co., then by the 3rd interview the compant has alredy called or checked ur references. you also may be over qualified so in light of the hr person sounding dumb the just simply reject.

Answer 2

Many reasons.

1. Unless you have done it, one of the hardest things you will ever do is to look a person in the eyes and tell them that they didn't cut it. You are afraid of hurting feelings, being attacked-verbally or physically, or other scenarios that can and do happen when you are the bearer of bad news.

2. Law suits. In this sue happy day and age, you can be sued for ANYTHING. The cost to defend yourself against these type lawsuits could be overwhelming, even to the point of bankrupting a company. Even if the company never loses one lawsuit. Legal fees and suits cost thousands of dollars even if you are in the right.

3. The last reason is that sometimes managers cannot give a verbal, or written, exact reason why they choose one person over another. It could be the person who got the job has a similar background to the boss, maybe they just hit it off, maybe you are single and everyone else in the department is married with kids and they don't think you'll like it there. Maybe you said you want to eventually get promoted and that opportunity doesn't exist in this company. Maybe you threatened the boss and he hired the lessor employee that would never be a risk.

There are a million reasons that one person is chosen over another. The only thing I do know is that if you are using a recruiter and they are not giving you real reasons that you didn't get the job they are either lousy recruiters with no real relationship with their clients, OR the reason you weren't hired is because of the recruiter's fees. I had clients that flat out told me that they would have hired my candidate except that the other person vying for the position did not have the fee.

Good luck, don't sit staring at your failures, there is a better opportunity down the road.

Answer 3

Liability concerns. Plain and simple, they are afraid to tell the truth, hurt the person's feelings and open themselves/the company/others to lawsuits. Hence the generic answers "We decided to go in another direction, You're overqualified, The position has been filled, We'll keep your application on file, etc"

Truthfully though it might not necessarily be something that is answerable, it is so often up to the whim and feelings of the person making that final decision. After narrowing down from unqualified or poor interviewees, Two or Three people might be up for the same position. Only One can get it, all three are pretty equal hence the fact they've gotten as far as they have. But someone within the company has to make that final decision. It can boil down to someone smiling more, answering questions with more confidence etc... these things are not reflections on someone's ability or experience so you can't really expect an HR person who has to give the bad news to say, "Look you didn't smile enough at Ms. Jones so she went with Mr. Smith." Which of course brings up the whole liability issue again. Those tight races so to speak are the times when the little extras come into play, your volunteer/community involvement, confidence, etc... the things that might give you an edge over someone else with practically the same CV as you.

Answer 4

Most likely, you are not rejected. Rather, somebody else got selected. Try not to take it personal. There are many competing for the same position and only one or a few are taken. As a recruiter, it is tough enough to tell people they don't get the job, they certainly don't want to burn anymore bridges by telling you any more negative things about you. Besides, you may be a future candidate for other positions. By the way, if you were interviewed by several people other than HR, they most likely are not the one to say no to you. Usually they are the first ones to select the ones they feel qualified. But then somebody else makes the final decision. Unlimately, HR gets stuck with the dirty work of informing the less fortunate ones even if they feel some may be more qualified than the one selected.

Answer 5

Really, they just don't have the time to do so. The best they should do is at least send you a response in writing stating that you did not get the position. Sometimes if the interviewer is nice enough you could call & ask them what you might improve on when you go on your next interview. Some might take the time to tell you.

Answer 6

Sometimes they are looking for certain personal traits or the recruiter has a favorite going from 2nd stage to their stage.

Interviews are not as objective as you might think. Sometimes, the other guy looks better or has a different accent. And that is why he gets chosen. The recruiter however is not aware of his subconscious choices or prejudices..

Answer 7

No. I tell lies to my consumers each and each and every time i visit artwork, infront of my colleagues and with the comprehend-how and approval of my boss. in case you disapprove then you definitely tell me a thanks to calm an 80 4 year old widow who's hysterical about getting abode because she had a toddler the day till now on the instantaneous and her husband doesn't comprehend a thanks to shelter it. My reaction to her is that she is staying with us to get nicely, she will be able to not be any good to the toddler if she is going abode and collapses and that i have despatched a nurse to assist her husband.

Answer 8

We can't. Too many frivilous lawsuits nowdays to make it possible. Thank the lawyers of the world.

Answer 9

I think they are afraid of being sued by a rejected applicant, so they give you an answer with no real facts.

Answer 10

Because their a bunch of chicken shiats... They don't have the guts to tell you their not what their looking for. I been threw this too many times, and if you get in a serious convo with them you might get told what your looking for.