When hiring new talent, you want to ensure you attract top candidates to your job posting. A positive candidate experience throughout the hiring process plays a crucial role in securing the best candidates and building a strong employer brand.
A candidate’s experience with the hiring process will determine if they accept the position, and candidates who didn’t make it to the offer will decide if they want to apply for another job at your company. In fact, statistics have revealed that “52% of candidates who were given feedback were more likely to continue a relationship with the company.” Feedback makes for a positive experience, as it helps candidates understand why they weren’t a right fit for the position. This could encourage them to keep your company in mind for their future employment needs, increasing the pool of applicants for future job postings you advertise.
If you’re thinking of enhancing your hiring process, consider the following tips to create a memorable and positive experience for job seekers.
Clear and Engaging Job Descriptions
The tone you use for your job descriptions can help candidates draw a conclusion about your company. Crafting compelling job descriptions is the key to ensuring they draw a positive conclusion. Start by defining the role’s responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications.
Avoid using vague or generic language, as it can deter potential applicants. Instead, emphasize showcasing the company culture, growth opportunities, and unique selling points. This will engage candidates, as the job descriptions will highlight their impact on the role and the organization.
When creating job descriptions, it’s important to find the right balance between a formal and casual job description. For example, a posting with many hashtags or emoticons can seem unprofessional, but an ad with too many buzzwords and jargon can intimidate some candidates. Try to create an engaging listing by using a casual tone by being friendly and informative.
Streamlined Application Process
Lengthy and complex application forms can discourage highly qualified candidates from applying. For example, an application that asks for a resume attachment and requires you to list all of your work experiences again manually can be off-putting for some applicants. According to Business News Daily, 30 percent of candidates don’t want to spend more than 15 minutes on an online job application.
Simplify the application process to minimize friction and frustration for candidates and create a user-friendly and mobile-responsive application system. Ask for essential information upfront and allow candidates to easily upload their resumes and cover letters. Additionally, consider incorporating an option for candidates to express their interest even if there are no suitable openings at the moment.
Prompt Communication and Timely Updates
Effective communication is critical to enhancing the candidate experience, as many candidates lose interest in a role if employers take too long to respond.
If you don’t have the time or resources to respond promptly to your candidates, consider handing the responsibility to a recruitment agency. A specialized recruitment firm like Sales Talent Agency has a team of qualified professionals who know the best ways to respond to applications promptly, acknowledge receipt and set clear expectations regarding the hiring timeline. They can keep candidates updated on their status throughout the hiring process, providing feedback whenever possible.
Another great way to offer timely updates is by automating confirmation emails to ensure every applicant receives a response. Even if a candidate is not selected, provide constructive feedback to help them improve for future opportunities.
