Asking “what could I have done better?” after a rejection is awkward, rare, and wildly useful.

Rejection usually comes with a polite non-answer, and most people accept it and spend a month guessing. Asking for the real reason is awkward for both sides, which is why it is rare, and rare is exactly why the answer is worth so much. One specific sentence can save you from repeating the same thing ten more times.

Reply once, briefly, and ask what would have made the difference. Make it easy to answer honestly by saying you are asking for next time. Not everyone will respond, and the ones who do are giving you something most people never get.