How To Tell A Job Candidate They Didn’t Get The Job

For many recruiters and hiring managers, the worst part of the hiring process is telling a job candidate they didn’t get the job. There’s no easy way to reject a job candidate, but it’s important to communicate this information as painlessly as possible.

Manager yelling into megaphone

Delivering bad news to a job candidate is never any fun, but it is part of the job. As an HR pro, you are responsible for picking the one person who is the best fit for the job. This is done by sifting and sorting through stacks of resumes and cover letters, conducting job interviews, and making a final decision. Unfortunately, not every can make the cut.

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When a job candidate doesn’t get hired, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t a good option. It just means that they aren’t the best option. Every job candidate has dedicated time and energy into applying for your job openings and you need to treat them with the respect that they deserve.

Here are few simple guidelines to tell a job candidate they didn’t get the job:

Communicate clearly via email, phone, or in person
Do so in a timely manner
Try to personalize the situation
Be positive
Treat them like you would want to be treated
Never lie or mislead them

Take a minute and put yourself in the job candidate’s shoes. There’s nothing worse than being left in the dark and not knowing where you stand. Every job candidate deserves to know if they got the job or if they didn’t. If you can, try to guide them on the right path and tell them why they didn’t get the job. This simple feedback can help them become gainfully employed the next time they apply for a job.

If you had a real problem making your final hiring decision, let the rejected candidates know that they should apply again in the future. Not only will this help you grow your talent pool, but it will potentially make hiring easier the next time around.

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Do yourself a favor and spend a bit of extra time during the hiring process to communicate openly and honestly with the candidates that didn’t get the job. Telling a job candidate they didn’t get the job in a professional manner will reflect positively on your company’s brand and the overall hiring experience.