Getting feedback after an interview can feel like a rare gift. But when you do get it, it's often couched in polite, professional language that can be hard to interpret. Understanding what a recruiter is really telling you is a skill that can dramatically improve your job search.

Common Feedback Phrases and Their Real Meanings

• "We've decided to move forward with a candidate whose experience is more closely aligned with the role."

  • What it often means: You were a good candidate, but someone else had more direct, hands-on experience with a key technology or responsibility. It could also mean you didn't do a great job of connecting your experience to the job description. This is a common issue when you don't tailor your CV for each job.

• "We were very impressed with your background, but we're looking for someone with more strategic experience."

  • What it often means: Your experience seems more focused on execution rather than high-level planning. They're looking for someone who can not only do the work but also help decide what work needs to be done.

• "The team felt you weren't quite the right cultural fit."

  • What it often means: This is a tricky one. It could mean anything from a personality clash to a concern about your work style. It's often a catch-all for when there's no single, concrete reason for the rejection. Reflect on your conversation and see if there were any moments of disconnect.

How to Use Feedback to Your Advantage

Regardless of the feedback, your goal should be to turn it into actionable steps. This is where a tool like Flashy can be incredibly powerful.

Let's say the feedback was about your experience not being "aligned." You can use Flashy to re-analyze your CV against the job description. The tool's deep-dive analysis might reveal that you failed to highlight key projects or use the right keywords to showcase your alignment.

Even vague feedback about "cultural fit" can be a prompt to review the job description for clues about the company's values. Are they all about collaboration, but your CV reads like a solo act? These are the kinds of insights Flashy can help you uncover.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for More

It's always appropriate to thank a recruiter for their time and feedback. If the feedback is vague, it's okay to politely ask for more specific details. You might say:

"Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate it. To help with my professional development, could you share any specific areas where you felt my experience was not as aligned as the successful candidate's?"

The worst they can say is no, but often, they'll provide a valuable nugget of information.

For more on handling the emotional side of feedback, our article on dealing with rejection can be a helpful resource. By learning to decode feedback, you can turn every "no" into a valuable lesson on your journey to "yes."