If you’re a job seeker or a candidate in the hiring process of an organization, you should understand that feedback is an important aspect of that process. Unfortunately, some people become defensive when they’re presented with feedback.
That’s because, even though the feedback was meant to be constructive in nature, they view it in a negative fashion. In other words, they almost view it as a personal attack. I’ve been a search consultant for more than 20 years, and I can say with absolute certainty that hiring managers and recruiters do not give candidates feedback for the purpose of attacking them.
Growing your career is all about identifying your weaknesses and taking the steps necessary to strengthen those weaknesses. This includes your weaknesses in the area of interviewing. Feedback is an excellent way for you to identify the things you must improve so that you can make greater strides and reach your career potential.
With this in mind, you should view feedback as an opportunity, not a personal attack. It’s an opportunity for an objective third party to provide you with information that you can use to become better as a job candidate in today’s job marketplace.
In fact, you should seek out feedback, not just about your interviewing skills, but about all areas of your employment and your career. You should also be grateful for whatever feedback you receive and express that gratitude.
There is nothing wrong with being emotionally invested in your career. However, don’t allow emotion to cloud your better judgement. Welcome the feedback that people provide and use it to improve your skills, your outlook, and your chances for career success.