Supercharge Your Pipeline: 5 Tips for Quality Candidate Feedback
Hiring

Supercharge Your Pipeline: 5 Tips for Quality Candidate Feedback

Want to Grow Your People Pipeline? Here’s How to Give Interview Feedback to Candidates The most common complaint from job seekers is a lack of constructive feedback. Considering that each candidate has invested time, energy, and hope into your organisation, it’s only fair and smart to understand how to give interview feedback to candidates in […]

March 20th, 2024
*

Abby.

Founder

A search expert making key hires for over twenty years.

Want to Grow Your People Pipeline? Here’s How to Give Interview Feedback to Candidates

The most common complaint from job seekers is a lack of constructive feedback. Considering that each candidate has invested time, energy, and hope into your organisation, it’s only fair and smart to understand how to give interview feedback to candidates in a way that’s thoughtful, clear, and constructive.

Why Feedback Matters

Many hiring managers feel unsure about how to give interview feedback to candidates, especially when the feedback isn’t glowing. As a result, candidates are often met with vague phrases like “you narrowly missed out” or “the role is now on hold.”

But providing specific, actionable feedback not only respects the time and effort of the candidate it strengthens your employer brand and increases the likelihood they’ll consider future roles with you.

Feedback = Experience = Brand

According to LinkedIn research, offering feedback after an interview improves the candidate experience by 40%. Even more compelling, 94% of candidates who receive feedback say they’re more likely to consider future opportunities with that employer.

That’s why learning how to give interview feedback to candidates is not just a “nice to have” it’s a vital part of building a high-performing, future-focused talent strategy.

Don’t Let Missed Hires Hurt Your Business

Once your ideal candidate accepts an offer, it’s tempting to move on quickly. But failing to properly close the loop with the rest of your shortlist is a missed opportunity.

In fact, neglecting to master how to give interview feedback to candidates can negatively impact brand perception and even future revenue. Candidates talk—and their experience becomes part of your company’s public reputation.

A Personal Take: The Long Game of Good Feedback

When I first started my career, my boss told me, “Always treat your candidates with respect they’ll come back to you one day.” She was right. Dozens of people I once gave detailed feedback to who didn’t get the role have returned years later as clients.

Learning how to give interview feedback to candidates has been one of the most career-defining skills I’ve built. It’s respectful, reputationally sound, and commercially smart.

Top Tips on How to Give Interview Feedback to Candidates

1. Offer to Schedule Feedback, Not Just Send It

When advising of the outcome, offer to book a short call to share insights.
Half will decline, but those who accept will appreciate it and remember you for it.

Framing feedback as a two-way conversation is a key part of understanding how to give interview feedback to candidates that feels constructive and not confrontational.

2. Prepare Detailed Notes

When providing feedback, it’s essential to be specific, constructive, and empathetic. Gather input from all interviewers and structure it in a way that focuses on behaviours not personality traits.

Phrases like “we felt you could have expanded more on…” or “I believe your strength lies in…” go a long way in creating an open and actionable conversation.

This level of clarity is central to best practice for candidates and supports their growth.

3. Encourage a Two-Way Conversation

Let the candidate share their perspective. Ask open-ended questions. Listen more than you speak.

Creating a space for dialogue helps candidates feel seen and respected. It also makes it easier for you to improve how you give interview feedback to candidates in the future.

4. Ask for Feedback in Return

Feedback is a two-way street. Ask candidates how they found your process and what could be improved.

By actively seeking this input, you show that you care about continuous improvement and you gain useful insight into how to give interview feedback to candidates that aligns with evolving candidate expectations.

5. Express Gratitude and Keep the Door Open

A simple thank you goes a long way. Acknowledge the time, energy, and interest the candidate brought to the process.

If appropriate, suggest staying in touch via LinkedIn or future roles. It’s a professional gesture that keeps your network warm and your pipeline active.

Why Feedback Is an Investment in Your Brand

Mastering how to give interview feedback to candidates is about more than kindness it’s about creating a ripple effect of trust, respect, and reputation. In a competitive hiring landscape, these are non-negotiable.

At Yellow Bricks, People Come First

At Yellow Bricks, we’re committed to hiring the best people in the market—and delivering an exceptional candidate experience.

We’re proud to place real change-makers in environments where they can thrive. Our goal is to build a purposeful, supportive community that drives positive change across businesses and careers alike.

Want help refining your candidate experience or interview process?

👉 Contact us today – and let’s build a better pipeline, together.

To find out more about how to focus on your brand, get in touch today.
Want to hear about our other articles?
Looking to hire your next superstar?
Keen to explore our latest vacancies?
Yellow Bricks is a female-owned and led executive search firm hiring predominately for software companies with diversity and inclusion at the heart of our offering. To learn more, click here.
Related posts
Recruitment Assessment Made Easy: How to interview for success

Recruitment Assessment Made Easy: How to interview for success

Hiring for your Team – Getting it right the first time is a critical part of your role Recruitment made easy Many people find the important task of hiring overwhelming. One poor decision could lead to costly errors and wasted time, which might risk your team’s achieving its goals, leaving you exposed. As a dedicated […]
UK Labour Market Trends: What you need to know

UK Labour Market Trends: What you need to know

Overview of the Current Labour Market The UK labour market is experiencing a notable shift. While still robust compared to pre-pandemic levels, job vacancies and employment are declining. This cooling trend, evident in recent ONS data, signifies a changing landscape for employers and job seekers.   Employment and Unemployment Trends The employment rate declined to […]
4 Eating Habits of Highly Successful People

4 Eating Habits of Highly Successful People

What do the world’s most successful people eat on a day to day basis?   Food is fuel, and these leaders make a point of choosing what they eat wisely.   Here are the eating habits of some highly successful people:   Being Predictable 💡 Many leaders are famous for being highly predictable in when […]
London receives record investments into Impact Tech

London receives record investments into Impact Tech

London has become one of the fastest-growing hubs for impact tech with start-ups. Up to the end of 2020, the UK had secured more investment in the past 5 years than any other country in the world, in 2020 an astonishing £950m was raised.
Proposed UK Employment Law Changes and How Employers Can Prepare

Proposed UK Employment Law Changes and How Employers Can Prepare

Following their election in July of this year, the new UK government has pledged to deliver “the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation”.   A key part of this commitment is the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, which is expected to be introduced by the end of October 2024. While these changes are not […]
Managing the School Holidays as a Working Parent

Managing the School Holidays as a Working Parent

When it comes to planning for school holidays, working parents and guardians face the huge task of making arrangements for their little people and deciding how they will go about managing the school holidays. This can be quite a stressful time, causing families to feel often guilty about not being around all of the time. […]
Leading Alongside AI: 4 Essential Skills Leaders Need

Leading Alongside AI: 4 Essential Skills Leaders Need

As we enter a new era of innovation and technological advancement. AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the business landscape – including in leadership. A 2022 survey saw 92% of large companies say that they have already announced plans to invest more into AI.   AI is here to stay, and it is […]
3 Business Leadership Skills You Need to Hire in 2024

3 Business Leadership Skills You Need to Hire in 2024

In the fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape of 2024, hiring the right leader is critical to organizational success.   As Deloitte found, businesses with a culture led by great leaders were 12 times more likely to have high business performance.   But you’ve got to know what to hire! And that can be difficult to […]
What makes a great leader in 2024?

What makes a great leader in 2024?

The business world is constantly changing, and so are the qualities needed to succeed as a leader. If you aspire to a senior leadership role in 2024, you’re in the right place. We understand that navigating your career can be tough. As a talent search firm partnering with leading companies, we have insights to share […]
C-Suite positions are rarely advertised. Here’s why and how you can win them.

C-Suite positions are rarely advertised. Here’s why and how you can win them.

Have you ever wondered why you hardly see job adverts for top-level executive positions?   It’s not just because these roles require a very specific set of skills and experience; there are several pretty good reasons behind it.   Let’s discuss and uncover how you can get onto the path to the C-Suite.   Why […]

People. Culture. Growth.