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The fact that they had more feedback than just "it was close" would suggest to me that they're not just saying it. They gave a couple of clear areas where you impressed them.

Take it as a positive and as a signal for how to continue prepping for future interviews.

Good luck and merry Christmas!

There is a girl who works in our team who got a similar message, then when a similar job came up two months later in our team they gave her the job. I think this is a legit response

I think this is very strong feedback but I wouldn't necessarily expect a call back. It's not a completely generic rejection.

It sounds like you got pipped purely by virtue of another candidate being better suited but I take this to mean they really liked you, want to work with you and if another role comes up that you're best suited to they'd like to be in touch.

It's not something I'd stop applying for other jobs over, but you can reassure yourself that you gave a great interview which means you can and will again, best of luck on the next one!

Feels legit as others have said. We’ve spent days trying to decide on the right candidate before when we have wanted to take both so i would say the time taken is a good indicator also. I’ve had this twice and both times once offered a role within a few months then second time we pushed for another role immediately that was accepted and we managed to get both candidates.

Perfect example of why you should not get upset or emotional when receiving bad news about applications. I got a message like this recently suggesting I was 3rd for a company recruiting for 2 roles, so upsetting. I received a call a week later, someone dropped out and so I was offered the role, start 05 Jan, v v happy, couldn’t care less If I got the job by default, just keep plugging away, good luck!

I had a similar response recently. A few months down the line the position above the one I originally applied for opened up and they offered that to me with no additional requirements.

I did have this same situation happen to me, assumed it was just politeness, but they did call up two months later to get the ball rolling on a new job that did indeed come up in the same department. Didn’t even have to go through the full interview process again, just a short call with the new hiring manager. Hope similar happens for you!

I’d definitely take that as a positive response.

Yeah this sounds good, definitely reply saying you’d like a position when one comes up.

When I passed an interview to get into the aviation industry. I was in a waiting pool for 4.5 months until a job came up

I hate this type of feedback. Good when they actually say the areas to work on next time. But very few actually provide constructive feedback these days.

Slightly better than generic feedback

You've either got someone there who thinks you are a good or feels guilty

Either way don't hold your breath for a call back, they'll likely forget about you in a day or 2

They won’t be back in contact unless the person they went with pulls out very soon.

You got feedback, which is a lot more than usual. I wouldn't wait around for them to offer you anything though. Keep applying for other jobs.

It’s positive note in a negative message. Yes you didn’t get the job but you did very well. Keep going and the next one hopefully you land it.

Yeah i think its genuine.

Yes 100%, well done! I have to provide feedback for all our interviews and we wouldn’t say this unless we meant it.

I'd say so. My current job was similar feedback and surprisingly they called me about an open position a few months later.

I had similar feedback from an interview years ago, and they got back in contact with me a few weeks later and offered me a new role that had opened up.

Fingers crossed for you

Thank you all for your responses. I’ll keep applying just incase though! Ready for the January rush! ☺️

This is legit. Be grateful, be thankful, keep yourself seen on LinkedIn (keep all the connections you made in the process) and be active with interesting stuff relevant to whatever potential roles they could have for you. And even be in contact. I would keep that bridge intact. Never burn or disregard any.

Just remember this - you have EVERYTHING to gain by being gracious to people, and EVERYTHING to potentially lose by being angry.

One of the hardest things in recruitment is to reject candidates who finish a close runner up.

It's far easier giving declined feedback to those who really mess up

As a person that has recruited/interviewed people in the past, sometimes it really is tough and a close decision between two and sometimes you’d really want to employ both! They’ve gone above and beyond with email in not just saying ‘sorry you’ve not got it’, they’ve highlighted an eagerness to ensure that if things change, they want you and they want you to know that.

It’s a win in a loss. Sorry to hear you didn’t get the job but equally hold your head high, you almost had it and who knows what the future holds for the next round

Yes. Keep your head down and keep in touch with them. I had feedback like this and a job offer 3 months later from them. 

This is DEFINITELY good feedback!

It’s not a copy paste for a start!

Well done - I’d only say, don’t wait around for them to offer you a different role - it’s proof you can get a job you want TODAY

(i.e. get back to applying and go get your dream job)

It sucks when you just narrowly miss getting the job. It’s just heart breaking…

However, when a prospecting employer takes the time write an email like that. They really struggled to choose and they genuinely liked you. Take it as a win and it means you are doing it right. Best of luck in your search! Keep your head up

You never know !! I’ve applied for jobs & thought an interview was horrible but got the job, and sone very well to be knocked back. Keep looking EVERYWHERE and don’t rely on one company or application. Then when you get offered one , maybe even two, you can decide your preference

You did well. To get any feedback rather than keep an eye out shows you did well.

This reads as we would have hired you, but there was someone even better.

Sounds like you made the grade to be hired, but the other candidate stood out in some way.

There's positives to take from this, but dont rest on your laurels, yiu can always do better.

Probably genuine, there’s a chance that they just felt bad for you and are being nice but I’d say it’s a small chance. More likely the other candidate was simply slightly more qualified on paper.

Just out of interesting, Are you looking for cdm or safety management role?

I just want to know that one candidate that all these companies been choosing over everyone, like dude chill

TBH, the fact you even had a reply means you made an impact! I'd take it as a positive they did that, most in my experience do not- and that's not a new thing, I was first on the jobs market in 2004, I'd be applying for anything up to 100 jobs a week, handing in CVs, back then this was the method and the application forms were not a frequent thing (and the internet wasn't so much a big thing back then, AI as we know it today hadn't been created yet). I probably got about 5 replies in total, a few interviews but even then it would be rare you'd hear back at all. Employers don't always respect their staff the way they should let alone people applying to work there- so if this reply is any sort of indication of the company I'd keep an eye on any new positions going.

One thing to add though; due to GDPR the rules are that they can't retain your details- at least not legally! (actually that was law before GDPR but GDPR just made it even more of an issue than it was before that came in)HR will probably tell them this when they do forward your details. You may have asked and specified they do this, but strictly speaking they're on dodgy ground from a legal perspective even if this is something you specifically stipulated. I would therefore keep your eyes on their website or wherever they put out their available positions and apply from there. It will at least show you are keen to work with them and like the company or what it stands for.

I had a similar message a few years ago (I think they'd basically promised the guy who got it ahead of me the job). Two weeks later they called me to ask if I was still interested and said they were creating a new role specifically for me.

It sounds like positive feedback to me and like there was probably something fairly small that gave the other candidate the edge

I’d say so

Generic rejection. Nothing good or bad it just you didn't make the cut and they are just nice about it

I got the same response after a job interview, 3 weeks later, the new guy had to leave for personal reasons and I was offered the job.

Based on that experience, yes very promising feedback.

I got my job by replying to similar feedback with a job that was already advertised at the company! Have a look and ask to be put in touch with the hiring manager if you find anything suitable. If not, be patient and keep looking and maybe follow up in the new year. Good luck!

Might sound weird. I wouldn’t dwell on it too much either way. If multiple places have given positive feedback about something, then continue to do that. I find negative feedback more useful as it outlines what I can improve on for future applications

That’s positive feedback. Apply again when another role becomes available. Also, if you came that close, you should ask for feedback.

This looks like a standard polite rejection from HR. All businesses have the same kind of reply. If you need some feedback, you should ask for it.

They've taken the time to provide a personalised email with specific feedback

Recruiters don't tend to do that unless there is a reason

They're trying to 'keep you warm' should another role come up so take that as a positive

Looks legit , not bog standard copy and paste standard response

I just land job like that. I Was not successful but they were impressed and passed my details onto HR. 2 months later similar job opened and they asked me to apply.

It’s a better worded template to trick you into thinking it’s personal. There’s nothing specific about the feedback. Blanket statements that apply to everyone.

I think it’s generic. I’ve had the exact same feedback from 3 interviews before I found the job I just got.

The usual… between you and someone else… gave good examples… nothing wrong with your interview… will keep you in mind for future roles… it’s generic.