After a job interview, the first question that our family or friends ask isHow did the interview go?
Most of the time, that question won’t have a clear answer. After an interview, we will most likely have more questions than answers about the company, the work environment, our possibilities and many more.
The answers can range from "I think it went well " to "I failed badly", but the weird thing would be if your own interviewer is the one who asks that question at the end of the interview, right?
Delivering fast feedback to candidates
It's actually a very good idea to do so: this final question establishes a bond of trust, while clarifying any points in the conversation that were left in doubt.
Asking the candidate “How did the interview go?” opens the possibility to express themselves freely and with all sincerity, so that both parts can contrast their points of view regarding the performance of the meeting.
In reality, the final result of the process does not matter, because this feedback can be used by both parties to evaluate themselves as an interviewer and improve the candidate's chances in another future interview —either with the same company or somewhere else.
One of the most frequent criticisms of the hiring process is that the candidate is not given a clear idea if the interviewer will recommend them for a later evaluation, or if they should try their luck elsewhere.
Eliminatingf this doubt is important for both parties: not only so as not to waste time but also to give them the opportunity to add some element of weight that can tip the balance in their favor.
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Gain for both parts
Interviewers have an almost instantaneous idea if the candidate is suitable or not for the position in question. Usually a first interview is followed by others, so communicating to the candidate that the interview has been satisfactory reinforces their confidence and self-esteem.
On the other hand, having them evaluate their performance gives a clear idea of whether this person fits into the culture of the company or not, as well as their aspirations and interests.
As long as this feedback is carried out in a respectful, transparent and honest way, both parties will benefit. Regardless of the outcome, the interviewee will appreciate the opportunity to have the aspects pointed out in which they must work to face future interviews. Even the experience of a rejection detailing the reasons will help them to overcome the issues.
For the interviewer, this is also an opportunity to explain some aspect that has not been clear to the interviewee. Of course, and also regardless of the outcome of the interview, this also helps us to improve and draw experiences so that our next candidate feels more comfortable.
So, before a third party is the one to ask, it is not better that the participants of the interview respond mutually and honestly to the question of how it went. In the end, they help themselves by answering it frankly.