Is it polite to contact an employer who didn't hire you, to ask for the reasons he/she didn't?

Politeness is always welcome.

The question should have been if  it is "appropriate" rather than if it is "polite"

I would say it is every candidate's right to get constructive and objective feedback on their interview. Whether hired or not hired. Feedback shall be given on the Strengths and Areas for Development. Even if it was any other reason, it is only professional from the side of the interviewer to provide constructive feedback. If not given, it is absolutely appropriate to ask for feedback. If the feedback wasn't received, this means the employer does not understand that they are ruining their own reputation. One of the criterias of assessing "employers of choice" is "candidate satisfaction". One of the companies I worked with used to send the candidate for feedback after every stage during the recruitment process. We used to measure such data and correct areas of concern. 

It's a fair question to ask. It depends on how you ask and also the employers willingness. Often times I have asked and received feedback. The way I would put across to the recruiter is: I would like to know in what areas did my experience not match as I would use the feedback for my own development. This usually works and the recruiter tells you a specific area or will give you if you were overqualified or their needs is for someone with extensive experience in a specific area within the function. To answer in short - absolutely, one must always ask for feedback.

Yes, Specially if you found that you were being rejected too many times, you may contact them to get feedback to better your chances in the future, and if you called more than one employer and they all told you the same thing about why they didn't hire you, then you have pinpointed the thing you need to work on in your personality, qualifications, or CV.

 But be aware that while some companies might share this information others might not easily want to share the real reason to why they didn't hire you, so try to make them feel comfortable first about answering your questions (stating that it's for feed back reasons only), and try to be specific, you can ask them what can I work on more to improve my qualifications for a job like this, what did you think was lacking in my CV or interview that might decrease my chances for a job like this in the future.

sure, to know the reason why I haven't been selected for the job, it will allows me to think differnetly and help me in my next vacanies that i might apply to aviod rejection.

Yes you can ask in a professional manner especially for the position where you were pretty confident to be hired. You can ask the employer the main reason for not being accepted for that specific position with an intent to improve further.

However, it also depends upon employers response. You may be given generic response that your application couldnt get through in shortlisting of candidates.

It is certainly good to ask for a feedback on the reasons for rejection, but practically speaking you would not get an honest reply since the employer would have many reasons that cannot be shared with the candidate.

Seasons Greetings !

 

First of all Thanks a lot Ms. Nisreen Ahmad (Corporate Communications Specialist at HTA Healthcare) for having given me this opportunity to give my opinion/answer to the subject Question as raised by you.

 

Well as an HR Analyst or HR Person of a Company if I am to answer this question, then would I say 'YES', if at any point of time, we as an Employer receive such request from any of the candidate who was not considered for employment in our Company.  But while replying we must first quote all good qualities we found in the candidate, then indicate areas where Developments may be needed and reply that since the Profile of the candidate did not match with the Post for which the candidate had applied, the same has not been considered for the Post.  However, the Profile has been retained by the Company for consideration as and when any Vacancy befitting the candidate's Profile arises in the Company.

 

If am to answer this question as an Individual who had faced the Interview and not getting selected, I feel that I can very humbly and politely request the Organization for having not considered my candidature as I must know the reasons for my non-selection and must try to up-build my professional acumen accordingly so as to avoid similar situations elsewhere or in the same Company.

 

Regards,

 

Narayanan A.K.

For me i will not ask . But generally it's ok if you asked for the reasons ; but depend on how you will ask ?

I think it depends on how you approach.  It would be good idea to speak to him and find out where you can improve which will give you a fair idea as how to approach an interview as and when you appear for the next one.

yes no problem with calling but better to send e-mail first cause the non verbal contact favorite in these cases and if there is no respond then calling the employer is good also 

yes sure , no problem with that  but it would be better if you send them an email to ask and if not so a phone call is fine