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How to ask for feedback on a rejected application
Hello TPM community,
I applied to a pediatric emergency in Geneva and got rejected before the interview as you might know. Here I'm opening a thread on this thorny topic.
I sent an email to the person who supported my application, not the Professor directly responsible: Head of Department. He's also a professor but a staff physician:
Topic: Feed-back application PE (Abbreviation: Pediatric Emergency)
Dear Professor X,
First, thank you very much for your help with my application to the Pediatric Emergency Service.
If you wish so and if possible/relevant, I would like to know what I can improve in my application please.
I I should have applied as a resident or if I'm missing experience or added training (ATLS, etc.)
Of course, feel free to ignore this message if it seems not relevant to you.
Cordially (French expression: Cordialement, literally "from the heart" used as warm and formal salutations in letters)
John Freeman
I will update this thread whether or not I get an answer for data purposes. If I ask feed-back in future applications I will put it here as well.
Correction:
If I should have applied as a resident or if I'm missing experience or added training (ATLS, etc.)
Hi John,
This may only be my personal feeling, but that email seems too on the value-taking side to me.
The subject line fields a request that the email body only thread-expands on.
So, since it would be difficult to come up with a WIIFT to accommodate your request, perhaps minimizing it, expressing gratitude, and then leaving it "up to them" would be your best bet.
For example:
Subject Line: Thank You for the Opportunity to Apply
Hi [Name],
Thank you so much for taking the time to review my application.
I really enjoyed looking into your company and the role, and I'm wishing you success with your hiring goals.
If you're not against it, I'd be very grateful for any feedback on my application.
Either way, have a great rest of the week.
Kind Regards,
John Freeman
*Click the blockquote to expand it.
Thoughts?
Hello Ali,
I totally agree with you. You version is much better in terms of power dynamics. I’ll definitely use it next time.
Thank you!
By the way, didn't notice this part on the first read:
Quote from John Freeman on October 14, 2023, 1:48 am(...)
I sent an email to the person who supported my application, not the Professor directly responsible: Head of Department. He's also a professor but a staff physician:
(...)
Since it seems you know this recipient personally, feel free to adjust my template (which is geared more toward general use) so it has a more personal touch.
I got the feed-back:
Hello,
I don't think it's a lack of preparation or experience.
We have so many applications that it's very difficult to enter.
I would advise you to apply in [other university hospital where I trained and don't want to work] since they're starting to train people as well or in German speaking Switzerland if you have the language skills (Note: I don't).
Wishing you good courage (Note: French expression),
Best regards,
Professor X
So precious precious intel. I knew it was difficult to get in but I thought it was because they were keeping the jobs for the local people. Well, they are probably advantaged but still it's a matter of having a big competition. So basically my application is good enough to enter but not good enough to be on the top of the pile.
So it's as usual: back to work.
That being said, I still think that Ali's script is better than mine.
After some thoughts I would change one thing:
I really enjoyed looking into your company and the role
I'm not sure people enjoy looking into a company. Also it's a hospital not the private sector so maybe the vibe is different. So it sounds a bit disingenuous to me. If I would have enjoyed yes I would have wrote it.
and I'm wishing you success with your hiring goals.
Here it feels like a power move to me: "you did not hire me, I hope you'll still find a good match". That's how I hear it. Wishing success to a potential employer to find an employee that is not me when I was applying for the role feels a bit ego-protective to me: "it did not phase me".
It's the only part I would change. Otherwise I like the idea: to say something positive. I could not find an alternative.
So I personally would just remove that part:
Subject Line: Thank You for the Opportunity to Apply
Hi [Name],
Thank you so much for taking the time to review my application.
If you're not against it, I'd be very grateful for any feedback to improve my application.
Either way, have a great rest of the week.
Kind Regards,
John Freeman
Thanks again Ali!
