At Kalam Kagaz, I believe that feedback is an opportunity for growth, not just closure. When a candidate isn't selected, I ensure the feedback is specific, respectful, and actionable. I highlight their strengths first—what stood out in their resume or interview—and then address areas for improvement with clear examples. For instance, if communication skills need refining, I suggest practical ways to build that skill, like engaging in more public speaking or structured writing exercises. There was a candidate who applied for a content strategist role at Kalam Kagaz. She had strong writing skills but struggled to articulate strategic thinking during the interview. Instead of just sending a standard rejection email, I took the time to provide personalized feedback. I highlighted her impressive storytelling abilities but mentioned that for a strategist role, showcasing a clear understanding of market positioning and audience segmentation was crucial. I suggested she work on structuring her answers to reflect strategic insights and recommended a few online courses on digital marketing strategies. A few months later, she reapplied—this time with noticeable improvements. Her responses were clear, strategic, and well-organized. It was evident she had worked on the feedback. This time, she got the job. That experience reinforced for me the impact of thoughtful, actionable feedback. Sometimes, a little guidance is all someone needs to shine!
I do my best to let candidates know as soon as possible in order to respect their time, peace of mind, and perhaps other opportunities being considered. Usually, I try to be as professional and straightforward as possible, while also being respectful. If our client shares specific feedback, I will pass it along, but this isn't always the case. Oftentimes as recruiters, we just hear "we are not moving forward with this candidate," so that's all I can share. It's unfortunate, especially in this day and age where people value feedback so heavily, but it's just the way it is sometimes.
At Fulfill.com, we view every candidate interaction as an opportunity to build relationships, even when the fit isn't right for a particular position. When delivering feedback to candidates who weren't selected, I personally follow a three-part approach I've refined over my years in the 3PL industry. First, I'm transparent but thoughtful. Just as we're transparent with eCommerce businesses about which 3PL partners best match their needs, I believe candidates deserve clear insights about why they weren't the right match. I avoid vague statements like "we found someone more qualified" and instead provide specific, actionable feedback tied to the role requirements. Second, I focus on strengths first. Everyone who reaches our interview stage has impressive qualities. I make sure to acknowledge what impressed us before transitioning to areas for development. This approach maintains confidence while creating openness to constructive feedback - similar to how we highlight a 3PL's capabilities before discussing potential challenges with client integration. Third - and this is something I'm particularly committed to - I offer a connection point. The logistics industry thrives on relationships, and I've found that candidates who weren't right for one position might be perfect for another opportunity, either with us or within our network. I always provide my email and invite them to connect on LinkedIn. Several of our team members today came through this "not right now, but stay connected" pipeline. One practical example: we recently interviewed someone with exceptional technical skills but who needed more experience in our specific niche of fulfillment matchmaking. Rather than just saying "no," I connected them with a partner in our network who offered a six-month project that helped them gain that exact experience. They're now thriving in our ecosystem. Remember, in both 3PL matching and hiring, the goal isn't just finding the right fit today—it's building relationships that create value throughout the entire logistics ecosystem.