February 15, 2023
The current state of the economy has made it even more challenging for businesses to recruit top talent. But despite the challenges, one thing remains clear: candidate experience matters, regardless of the labor market. Currently, the labor market, particularly within the knowledge worker space, is declining, with many talented individuals coming onto the market. During these times, it can be tempting for companies to focus on cost-cutting measures and potentially shed their internal recruiting teams. However, it's crucial to understand that candidate experience should never be compromised.
In this blog post, we'll dive into why candidate experience is so important, even during an economic downturn, and provide relevant tips and the data to back them up to ensure that you're hiring in a proactive and human way. By following these tips, you can build strong relationships with top talent, improve your brand reputation, and position your business for success.
Make Sure You're Hiring to Fill a Real Need
Before you start recruiting, it's important to have a clear understanding of what you're looking for. Hiring for the sake of hiring is not only unproductive, but it can also result in a poor candidate experience. According to a study by LinkedIn, companies that hire for a specific need and provide a clear job description are 58% more likely to make a successful hire. To ensure that you're hiring for a real need, take the time to assess your business needs and create a detailed job description that clearly outlines the requirements, responsibilities, and expectations of the role. This will help you attract the right candidates and ensure that you're hiring for a real need, which will improve the candidate experience.
Moreover, a report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that poor candidate experience can have a significant impact on an organization's reputation. In fact, 46% of job seekers who had a negative interview experience reported that they would not apply to the company again in the future, and 43% reported that they would share their negative experience with others. By taking the time to assess your needs and create a clear job description, you can improve the candidate experience and avoid potential damage to your company's reputation.
Stop Ghosting Candidates
Ghosting candidates is, unfortunately, a common practice in the recruiting world, but it's not only unprofessional, it's also damaging to your brand. Candidates invest their time and effort into applying and interviewing, and they deserve to know the outcome of their application, whether it's positive or negative. The impact of ghosting can be significant, with 70% of job seekers reporting that they would not recommend a company that ghosted them to others, according to a survey by Talent Board.
To avoid ghosting and improve the candidate experience, it's crucial to communicate with candidates and provide them with feedback. This could be in the form of a personalized email, phone call, or even an in-person meeting. By taking the time to provide feedback, you show respect for the candidate's time and effort and demonstrate that your company values transparency and communication.
Moreover, providing feedback can help candidates grow and improve their skills for future job opportunities. According to a report by SHRM, 89% of job seekers said they would like to receive feedback on their interview performance, even if they were not selected for the job. By communicating with candidates and providing them with feedback, you can improve the candidate experience, enhance your company's reputation, and avoid the negative impact of ghosting.
Say Goodbye to "Thank You, Next" Emails
Sending generic "Thank you, but we've decided to move forward with other candidates" emails is not only unhelpful, but it's also uninformative. Such emails fail to provide any meaningful feedback to candidates and can leave them feeling frustrated and discouraged. According to a report by Talent Board, 80% of job seekers who received a generic rejection email felt that the company did not value their time and effort.
To improve the candidate experience, it's crucial to provide constructive feedback to candidates, even if they were not selected for the job. This feedback could be in the form of a personalized email or an in-person meeting and should focus on specific areas where the candidate can improve. By providing constructive feedback, you show that you value the candidate's time and effort, and you also help them grow and develop their skills for future job opportunities.
Moreover, providing feedback can also enhance your company's reputation. According to a survey by SHRM, 70% of job seekers said that they would be more likely to apply to a company again in the future if they received feedback on their interview performance. By saying goodbye to generic "Thank you, next" emails and providing constructive feedback to candidates, you can improve the candidate experience, enhance your company's reputation, and attract top talent in the future.
Follow-Up Early and Often
The hiring process can be a long and stressful experience for candidates, and it's essential to keep them informed and engaged throughout the process. According to a report by Talent Board, 60% of job seekers felt that they were not kept informed during the hiring process, which resulted in a negative candidate experience.
To improve the candidate experience, it's crucial to follow up with candidates early and often. This could be in the form of regular updates on the status of their application, or simply checking in to see how they're doing. Over-communication is always better than under-communication, and keeping candidates informed will show that you value their time and effort, and reduce the stress and anxiety that often accompany the hiring process.
Keep the Interview Process Short and Sweet
Long and drawn-out interview processes can be a major source of frustration for candidates and can lead to a negative candidate experience. According to a survey by Talent Board, 50% of job seekers reported that a lengthy interview process was one of the biggest pain points in their job search. Moreover, a study by LinkedIn found that 46% of job seekers said that a negative interview experience would make them less likely to consider a job with the company in the future.
To improve the candidate experience and avoid frustration, it's crucial to keep the interview process short and sweet. This could mean streamlining the number of interviews, reducing the length of each interview, or providing clear information about the next steps in the process. By keeping the interview process short and sweet, you can reduce frustration and stress for candidates, which will improve their overall experience and enhance your company's reputation.
Moreover, providing clear information about the next steps in the process can also help keep candidates informed and engaged. According to a survey by SHRM, 84% of job seekers said they would like to receive regular updates on the status of their applications. By keeping the interview process short and sweet and providing clear information about the next steps, you can improve the candidate experience, enhance your company's reputation, and increase the chances of attracting top talent in the future.
Keep the Human in the Hiring Process
Recruiting is all about relationship building, and AI cannot replace the human touch in the hiring process. Building strong relationships with candidates is vital for business growth and can enhance the candidate experience. According to a survey by Talent Board, 70% of job seekers said that they would be more likely to consider a job with a company that showed genuine interest in them as a person.
Candidates want to be treated like individuals, not just a number in a pile of resumes. They want to feel valued, respected, and heard. To keep the human touch in the hiring process, it's crucial to build relationships with candidates and treat them with respect and empathy. This could be as simple as asking about their interests and experiences, providing personalized feedback, or taking the time to listen to their concerns.
Moreover, building trust with candidates can also improve the overall candidate experience and enhance your company's reputation. According to a study by LinkedIn, 77% of job seekers said that a positive interview experience would make them more likely to consider a job with the company in the future. By keeping the human touch in the hiring process and building relationships with candidates, you can improve the candidate experience, enhance your company's reputation, and attract top talent in the future.
Value Your Recruiters
Recruiters play a critical role in the success of your business, and it's important to value their contributions to the hiring process. A well-supported and aligned recruiting team can have a significant impact on the candidate experience and the ability to attract top talent.
To value your recruiters, it's crucial to provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed. This could mean investing in training and development opportunities, providing access to the latest recruiting technology, or ensuring they have the support and resources necessary to effectively source and engage candidates.
Moreover, aligning your recruiters with your company mission and values can enhance the candidate experience and improve your ability to attract top talent. According to a survey by Society for Human Resource Management, 89% of job seekers said it's important for a company to have a strong culture and values. By valuing your recruiters and aligning them with your company mission and values, you can improve the candidate experience, enhance your company's reputation, and attract top talent in the future.
In conclusion, candidate experience should be a top priority for businesses, especially during an economic downturn when candidates deal with a lot of stress and pressure to find the right company and position. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can ensure that your hiring process is as smooth and stress-free as possible for candidates. By keeping the human in the hiring process, building relationships with candidates, and valuing your recruiters, you can improve your brand reputation, attract top talent, and position your business for success.
If you're struggling to keep up with the demands of recruiting during an economic downturn, or if you're simply looking for extra help to push the needle in the right direction, consider working with my Recruiting Optimization, OnDemand Recruiting, or Technology integration teams at Proactive Talent. Our team of experienced talent acquisition professionals can help you attract, hire, and retain top talent. From improving the candidate experience to valuing your recruiters, we have the expertise and experience to help you succeed.
So, if you're ready to take your hiring to the next level, contact us to schedule a call to learn more about how we can help. Our team is standing by, ready to provide the support and expertise you need to succeed in today's challenging job market. Don't let the economic downturn hold you back - work with Proactive Talent to find the top talent you need to grow your business.
