I guess the things are much easier in Europe than in USA in this regard. Not facing a huge risk of being sued by a candidate you've turned down due to their lack of skills is liberating both for the employer and the potential employee. I personally have been frustrated on more than one occasion with the complete lack of feedback and transparency from USA (or multinational) companies.
Working in Europe, on the other hand, I've tried to be open and honest to the candidates about their chances. I've personally called all the candidates I've had an interview with and told them if they've been rejected. I still think it was better for them to be updated so they could make informed decisions regarding their strengths and weaknesses, and their upcoming interviews.
If you use a (good) agent, you get feedback on what the company liked/disliked during the interview and why they declined
I guess the things are much easier in Europe than in USA in this regard
Unfortunately my experience is not the same: i've done several job interviews in the past months here in Italy and I had difficulties also having negative replies (they just dont tell you anything and after weeks/months you're supposed to know that you're not ok for them)
I can sometimes understand it when they "process" tons of candidates (for one position a firm got 500 applications on a well known job site, they interviewed 2-300 persons and during the interview they said "if we dont call you by the next week, w're sorry you're not going to the next step") but it happened to me also a couple of times when i was first interviewed by an head hunter, and then send to talk to the employer (in one occasion i did 2 or 3 interviews with the employer). And then.. nothing, I tried to ask the HH if she had news.. vague responses, from which you cant understand if they've decided not to hire anyone, wait some months and evaluate other candidates, or they've just hired someone else.
Maybe it's just an italian problem, but I think it's quite sad, generally you lose hours/days of your current job to go to this interviews, it would be just a sign of correctness to give at least a negative reply (a feedback probably would be asking too much)
Unfortunately my experience is not the same: i've done several job interviews in the past months here in Italy and I had difficulties also having negative replies (they just dont tell you anything and after weeks/months you're supposed to know that you're not ok for them)
By saying that the things are easier in Europe I don't mean they're perfect, and my experience is limited to two countries - Bulgaria and Spain. What I was trying to say is that I was allowed, and didn't worry too much about possible problems, to give feedback to the candidates. By the comments on HN I'm left with the impression that in USA this would be a big no-no and the company risks being sued for doing it.
On the other hand, the lack of feedback is not uncommon in Europe either. I think that eventually, it's about being more human and less a resource than anything. And since I've been in the position waiting in vain for feedback I know it doesn't feel good. So I try to treat fellow human beings the way I want to be treated - nicely.
Put in another perspective, we're not infallible and the person could apply for another position or at a later time, where/when his (possibly) improved abilities could be appreciated. You don't build reputation as a good place to work by gaining bad karma :).
Working in Europe, on the other hand, I've tried to be open and honest to the candidates about their chances. I've personally called all the candidates I've had an interview with and told them if they've been rejected. I still think it was better for them to be updated so they could make informed decisions regarding their strengths and weaknesses, and their upcoming interviews.