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If a rejection email says the employer decided to “move forward with other candidates,” it tells you the outcome: your application will not advance. Unless it gives a specific reason, it does not tell you why. It is not proof that you lacked a required skill, performed poorly in an interview, or were screened out by software.
What does “we decided to move forward with other candidates” mean?
It means the employer is not continuing with your application for this role. The phrase compares your application with others, but it does not identify what drove the decision. It could reflect the employer’s assessment of fit, the needs of the role, or other considerations; the message alone cannot tell you which.
One public account from a candidate described receiving a rejection that said the role’s sought-after skillset was the reason, but offered no detail about what that meant. That account illustrates how vague a message can feel; it does not show how common that wording is or establish a general hiring practice. Read the candidate’s account on LinkedIn.
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A generic email does not contain enough information to answer that question. Do not treat “other candidates” as a diagnosis: it does not, by itself, establish that you failed an interview, lacked a particular skill, or were rejected by an automated system.
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A rejection is real, but the employer’s reasoning may remain unknown. A U.S. Department of Labor guide discusses rejection notifications in a specific federal employee ethics context: there, notification means a covered employee is no longer considered to be seeking employment for purposes of the guide’s conflict-of-interest analysis. It is not a general rule requiring—or excusing—all employers to disclose reasons to applicants. See the Department of Labor’s Post-Employment Guidance for 2020.
Can I ask for feedback after a job rejection?
Yes. If you had direct contact with someone during the process—especially a person you interviewed with—and have a reasonable way to reach them, one brief, courteous request is appropriate. Ask one narrow question, such as what area you could strengthen for future interviews. A broad request for the full reasoning behind the decision may be harder to answer usefully.
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You can reply to the person who contacted you or write to your interview contact:
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Keep the note professional and do not argue with the decision. The hiring contact may not reply, so treat any feedback as a bonus rather than something you are owed or can count on. Asael Shinder’s advice on requesting feedback.
Should I reply to a rejection email?
You do not need to reply simply to acknowledge a rejection. If you want to maintain the relationship or ask for feedback, a short, gracious response is a reasonable option. Send one message through a channel that reaches someone who knows your candidacy; do not keep pursuing a reply if there is no response.
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What can I learn if nobody responds?
Make your own notes soon after the interview, while the conversation is fresh. The aim is to capture your experience—not to guess at the employer’s private rationale.
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- Write down one answer you think went well.
- Note one answer you would sharpen or explain differently next time.
- Record one question you wish you had asked.
- Mark where you felt least clear or prepared.
- After several interviews, look for recurring issues in your notes rather than drawing a sweeping conclusion from one rejection.
Asael Shinder puts the value of that longer view this way: “One rejection tells you very little. Three with the same weak spot is a pattern, and a pattern is something you can fix before the next one.” Read the article on DEV Community.
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Does a rejection mean I wasn’t qualified?
Not necessarily. The email confirms that you were not selected to continue for this opening; unless it says more, it does not establish whether you met the qualifications or what distinguished the selected candidates. Use any explicit feedback you receive, and treat your own notes as evidence about what you can improve—not as a way to claim certainty about an employer’s decision.
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