Anyone who has ever been through a job rejection knows that the experience is not just a professional setback. It’s personal. Rejection emails might be professionally worded, but they hit where it hurts, especially after investing time and hope into the application process. So when companies follow up with a request for feedback after a rejection, it can feel like salt in the wound. “We want to hear about your experience,” they say, when in your mind you’re thinking, “Do you even care?”
This isn’t to say feedback doesn’t matter. It does. But the timing, tone, and assumption behind such requests can sometimes miss the emotional reality of job seekers. This article explores why post-rejection feedback surveys can feel offensive and what companies should consider instead.
The Disconnect Between HR Systems and Human Feelings
At its core, the problem is structural. Most companies automate their recruitment processes with HR systems designed for efficiency. These systems are good at tracking applicants, scheduling interviews, and following up with standard templates. But they are terrible at handling human emotion.
When someone gets rejected, especially after rounds of interviews, they might feel invisible, undervalued, and discarded. That pain is real. It’s not just a checkbox on an HR dashboard. So when a feedback request comes in, especially one that sounds robotic or transactional, it highlights the company’s lack of understanding.
It feels like being asked to help clean the house you were just kicked out of. For free.
Companies often claim they care about candidate experience, and they probably do. But collecting feedback from rejected candidates is not the only way to show that. In fact, it can backfire if it’s the only point of contact after rejection.
Imagine being told, “We regret to inform you…” and then the very next email is a link to a feedback form. There’s no real closure, no acknowledgment of the emotional toll. You’re not in the mood to be helpful. You’re trying to move on.
It’s especially frustrating when you’ve had no interaction beyond automated emails. Why should someone feel motivated to respond to a survey when the company didn’t even take the time to personally communicate the rejection?
There is also a question of fairness. Candidates often spend hours tailoring resumes, writing cover letters, and preparing for interviews. That effort is unpaid labour. Asking them to now contribute additional time to help a company improve its recruitment process can feel one-sided, especially when there is no incentive or gesture of appreciation.
And let’s be honest: most of the time, rejected candidates never get feedback themselves. They just get a generic rejection note. But now the company wants their feedback? It’s not hard to see why many candidates delete the survey link without a second thought.
Not All Rejections Are Equal
It’s important to acknowledge that how a rejection feels often depends on the context:
- Was the candidate ghosted after a final interview?
- Was there any personalised feedback?
- Was the process respectful and transparent?
If a company handled everything with care, and then asked for feedback, some candidates might be willing to respond. But if the process was cold, confusing, or unkind, the feedback request feels more like a slap than a handshake.
Better Alternatives Companies Should Consider
If companies truly care about improving the candidate experience, there are better ways to go about it:
- Provide Feedback First: Give candidates some kind of insight into why they weren’t selected. Even a short note helps them feel respected.
- Personalise the Message: Don’t just send a generic survey link. Acknowledge the candidate’s effort and express genuine appreciation.
- Be Transparent About How Feedback is Used: Let candidates know how their input will make a difference.
- Offer Something in Return: If you’re asking for emotional labour, at least give something back. A thank-you note, resume tips, or even access to a job search resource can make a difference.
A Word to Job Seekers: You Owe Them Nothing
If you receive a feedback request after being rejected and it makes you feel frustrated, you are not alone. You are under no obligation to respond. Your time, energy, and emotions are valid. If it feels healing to share your experience, do it. But if it feels like more unpaid labor for a company that just told you no, then hit delete and move on.
Companies need to do better. But job seekers also need to protect their energy. Healing from rejection takes time, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation while you’re still nursing the wound.
The Key Takeaways Here
Asking for feedback is not wrong. But doing so without care, after a painful experience, and without offering anything in return is short-sighted. The goal should be mutual respect, not another checkbox on a corporate to-do list.
If companies truly want to improve candidate experience, they must first remember that candidates are people, not data entries. And people don’t respond well to being asked for favours after being shown the door.
