Many companies won't give that feedback purely for legal reasons. That's not the real reason. They like to think it's the reason. But it's not the real reaso

Many companies won't give that feedback purely for legal reasons. That's not the real reason. They like to think it's the reason. But it's not the real reason. The main reason they don't like to give feedback is that it's awkward and embarrassing. And because the most hiring managers (and especially most HR staff) don't have the communication skills (or plain and simple personal maturity) to convey the information tactfully. And because (in a large part due to the second factor mentioned), it can take up a an awful lot of time (in a process that generally ends up taking much longer than anyone would like or expect it to, in the first place). (Yes, I know there are anecdotal stories of candidates occasionally getting all huffy, or in fact doing much worse, when you give them honest feedback; and I wouldn't doubt that there's been a frivolous, costly lawsuit here or there, once upon a time. But still, my observation of the industry and of general human nature suggests that's not the real reason). Even so: I'm OK with not getting feedback. And I can (sort of) forgive them when they're late in coming back with a simple "no". But not getting any kind of a status (not even a boilerplate rejection email), ever? That's the part I don't get.