this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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I know the market is ass rn, I've been looking for a job since I graduated in November of last year with no luck. Every application I get a response like "you are great, your skills are great, you meet every criteria but we found someone better". I recently decided to start replying to emails to ask why I wasn't picked (I reply only to emails that aren't from no-reply or if the say I can ask for feedback). So far I have not even received one reply. Am I wasting my time??? I feel like it's just from automated systems and they don't even look at it. Is everything literally a ghost job?? If you have ever asked for feedback have you gotten anything useful from it?

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[–] qarbone@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I got denied at the internal codimg review. I asked if I could get feedback. I was told it's policy not to give feedback.

I tried for 2 years but I'm kinda feeling broken down. I'm now almost as long out of work as I had been with a job in CS.

I don't say this to drop doom and gloom on you but, to say, they aren't going to give you even a aingle inch that you don't claw out of them, so if you find a place that you really like fight for em.

[–] WhereAreMySocks@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

Its been about 5 years since the last time I was job hunting, so things might have changed. I did that email after rejection a few times, but the only reply I ever got was a "Sorry, we can't discuss that."

Someone on reddit mentioned that they straight up asking at the end of the interview, so I started doing that. I did that at my current job, even.

During those final moments of the interview when they go "I think thats all we need, do you have any final questions for us?" I would ask something along the lines of "Based on this interview, what would you see as my largest opportunity for improvement to be a better fit for this role?"

Try not to phrase it in a negative way or in a way that would make them highlight downsides, like "Is there anything about this interview that makes you think I'm not suited for this job?" The last think you want is for them to leave with the most negative aspects fresh in mind.

Obviously theres a risk of sounding like you already feel like youre not getting the job, but it depends on the recruiter and any reasonable person would view it as you looking for opportunities to improve yourself, and that you're willing to go the extra step in filling their need.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I've gotten a couple responses after asking for feedback. I don't remember all of details, but generally the issues were: gaps in knowledge, internal changes the halted the hiring process, and once the interviewer simply didn't understand the solution I gave them during a segment.