Can I ask why I was not hired?

Yes, you can ask why you were not hired. Many candidates request feedback after being rejected, and some companies are willing to provide constructive insights to help candidates improve. However, not all companies will offer detailed feedback due to policies, time constraints, or legal reasons.

How to Ask for Feedback

1. Be Polite and Professional: Use respectful and open language when making the request. For example: "Thank you for the opportunity to interview. I understand your decision to move forward with other candidates. If possible, could you provide any feedback on areas where I might improve for future opportunities?"

2. Focus on Learning: Make it clear that you're seeking feedback to grow and improve, not to challenge their decision. This increases your chances of receiving a helpful response.

3. Don’t Expect Detailed Feedback: Some companies, especially larger ones, may have policies against sharing specific reasons for rejections, but it’s still worth asking.

What to Expect

• General Feedback: Some companies will offer high-level feedback, such as suggesting areas of improvement in technical or behavioral aspects.
• No Response: There are times when you may not get feedback, as many companies have a high volume of candidates and cannot respond to every request.

Tips for Future Preparation

Whether or not you receive feedback, you can always improve your interview performance by preparing more thoroughly. Consider using resources like Grokking the Coding Interview or Grokking the System Design Interview to sharpen your skills and perform better in future interviews!