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Ask HN: Challenging a Rejection in a Recruitment Process

6 points by 97-109-107 ↗ HN
Has anyone tried, or seen, an applicant try to challenge the feedback in a rejection note trying to turn it around?

In this particular case, the position is not technical, so it's based on judgment of character and mutual understanding.

After three months of a recruitment process, I got a rejection from the CEO and I don't fully agree with half od the feedback - I believe I've been misjudged. (This impression is not only emotional, as I've taken rejections before and didn't mind them)

Has anyone tried this? Any stories?

5 comments

[ 1.7 ms ] story [ 24.9 ms ] thread
jstx1
Don't - you won't change anybody's mind and you'll look unprofessional. Zero upside, some potential downside. Just don't.

I think I did this once in my first ever job search after university when I sent an email with feedback on their feedback; it's still kind of embarassing to think about.

PaulHoule
The one way you could win at this is if you have advocates at a higher level in the organization and even then you are going to do your best if you go at this with extreme tact… like getting a position somewhere else in the hierarchy.
brudgers
View from a few steps back:

The CEO has made a decision.

You want to argue it.

That's not a good reason for the CEO to hire you.

Because the CEO did not ask for your opinion.

Hence, it is not a good fit.

At this time.

Maybe later.

Maybe not.

But why burn a bridge?

Good luck.

gdfgjhs
If CEO changes their mind, then they will look weak and indecisive. So they are unlikely to change their mind.

But I have recruiters in my circle and know stories where people challenged rejections and succeeded. All of them were lower level applicants. The hiring managers were overridden by HR or higher level managers. And this whole thing is so rare that whenever it happens I hear about it from my friends.