We’re sure you’ve heard it before: “It’s a candidate driven market!” It’s something we’ve also been hearing ourselves here at Arlyn Recruiting over the last few years. With so many roles available, and a plethora of incredible companies to choose from, how does one stand out amongst the competition? Successful employers know that this all comes down to the Candidate Experience.
Cultivating a positive candidate experience may seem easy on the surface, but in actuality, requires a closer look at all the touchpoints within a candidate’s journey. A negative candidate experience could cost you not only top talent, but also prospective talent as negative interactions are often noted on job sites such as Glassdoor or LinkedIn. In a job marketing favouring candidates, candidates are consistently evaluating each interaction with your organization, from the initial job application process to interviewing and onboarding.
Streamline Your Application Process!
A survey conducted by Zety on job seekers found that over“60% of candidates are likely to abandon the recruitment process, if [the process] turns out too long or complex.” To combat this? Ensure an excellent user experience. Application forms should be short and to the point! When selecting an applicant tracking system, consider ones that possess a user-friendly interface that will only require a candidate to upload their resume, and depending on its automation system, type in their basic contact information!
Ensure a Transparent and Consistent Interview Experience
Nothing is as frustrating than going into an interview, only to find out that the expectations laid out in the job description do not match what the interviewer is saying at all! Consistency is key in situations like these. Hiring Managers and HR need to be aligned on candidate expectations, likewise what the role will offer candidates’ as well. Job descriptions should outline clear, concise and informative expectations! Try aiming for a holistic and realistic picture of the role they’re applying for, transparency is key and plays a part in the experience as a whole!
“You’re interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you!”
Rule of thumb: Always ensure that every candidate that walks through your doors is respected, heard and valued! You know the saying! “You’re interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you!” Between Glassdoor, LinkedIn and hey—even word of mouth, those 20 to 30minutes spent chatting with you will be an experience that stays with them, sometimes forever! IBM found that applicants who were “satisfied” during the interview experience were more than “twice as likely to recommend the hiring organization to others.” It’s a two-way proposition: Be mindful of your interactions, give candidates your full attention throughout, and show them you respect their time and what they bring to the table! Treat them as you would clients, you want candidates to walk out of those interviews feeling good about their interaction with your company! We know we do!
Communication Throughout the Candidate Journey
Communication is essential throughout the recruitment process. Granted, we completely understand that we’re usually under time sensitive crunches in recruitment, so remember to set expectations for communications, early! Don’t be afraid to let them know next when you will communicate next and follow through!
Encouraging Reapplication and Feedback!
Even if a candidate is unsuccessful this time around, it’s important to end their application on a positive note rather than a negative. The dreaded rejection email is inevitable, it’s just math—but rather than having candidates associate rejection with your company, encourage them to reapply for future roles, don’t close the door on them just yet! Ensure to give your thanks, and especially if asked, give personalized feedback to candidates on how they can improve the next time around!
From minor changes to major overhauls, it’s these little details that can make a huge impact on the candidate experience and their overall perception of your company’s brand. The bottom line? Treat candidates the way you want to be treated and empower candidates to put their best foot forward! Developing an exceptional candidate experience is imperative to any organization looking to stay competitive, and by implementing these touchpoints within your candidate journey, this will make a world of difference in not only attracting top talent to your organization, but prospective talent as well!
