How you receive feedback is as important as how well you perform. Here is how to do it well.
Receive first, evaluate later
When receiving feedback, your first job is to understand it fully, not to defend yourself against it. Ask clarifying questions. Make sure you understand exactly what behavior or outcome the feedback is addressing.
Separate the feedback from the delivery
Sometimes valid feedback is delivered poorly. If the delivery was uncomfortable, try to separate the quality of the feedback from the discomfort of how it was given. Valid insight is worth acting on even when the delivery is imperfect.
Thank people for giving feedback
Most people find giving direct feedback uncomfortable. Receiving it gracefully and thanking the person for it makes it more likely they will give you useful feedback in the future. For more on this, see our guide on find a mentor at work that helps your career.
Act on it visibly
The highest-value response to feedback is to act on it and make the change visible. If your manager gives you feedback on a communication behavior and you change it explicitly, acknowledge it: “I have been working on what you shared and here is what I have tried.”
Read next
- How to Get Recognition for Your Work
- How to Handle Being Passed Over for a Promotion
- How to Ask for More Responsibility at Work
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?
Recruiters typically spend 6-10 seconds on an initial scan. They look for job title relevance, company names, and whether the most recent role is at the right level for the position.
What do recruiters look for first on a resume?
Most recruiters look first at your most recent job title and company, then check dates for gaps or progression, then assess whether the experience level matches what they need.
Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?
Yes, for experienced candidates. A 2-3 sentence summary that speaks directly to your target role helps recruiters understand your value instantly.
How many bullet points should each job have?
3-5 bullets for recent roles, 1-2 for older ones. Each bullet should describe an accomplishment or outcome, not just a task or responsibility.
Career growth rarely happens because someone notices you are doing good work. It happens because someone with decision-making power knows you are doing good work and believes you are ready for the next level. That distinction matters because it shifts your responsibility from simply performing well to actively managing your visibility. Waiting to be discovered is a passive strategy in a world where promotions and opportunities go to people who have made their ambitions clear.
One of the most underrated career development moves is building relationships with people two or three levels above you in your organization. Not to climb over your manager, but to understand what skills and decisions matter at the next level before you need them. Professionals who think like their future role before they have it tend to be promoted into it faster than those who are still optimizing for their current responsibilities. For more on this, see our guide on handle being laid off.
Feedback is another underused tool. Most professionals receive formal feedback once or twice a year during performance reviews. The professionals who grow fastest seek informal feedback constantly. A simple “what would have made that presentation land better?” after a meeting, or “what would help me be more effective in my role?” in a one-on-one, generates the specific, actionable input that helps you improve month by month rather than year by year.
External visibility matters as much as internal reputation. Writing a LinkedIn post about a lesson you learned on a project, speaking at an industry event, or contributing to a professional association puts your expertise in front of people who are not in your direct line of management. That outside signal often validates and amplifies your internal reputation in ways that purely internal effort cannot. For more on this, see our guide on lead your first project at work.
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