How to Improve Candidate Experience in the Hiring Process

Five minutes on LinkedIn is usually enough time to find multiple interview nightmare tales, almost always from the candidate’s perspective. Hazy job descriptions and non-existent rejection feedback are just two of the themes that frequently cause frustration.

 

You might not ask candidates to fill out a 10-page application, make them complete multiple assessments, or deliberately keep them waiting for hours on interview day. But could your company do more to get new hires off to a great start? 

 

Let’s briefly step into the candidate’s shoes, consider their major concerns, and see how you can up your hiring game.

Write Informative Job Descriptions

Candidates are tired of dry lists of duties and vague salary ranges. A well-written job description should:

 

• Be crystal clear about salary

 

• Define qualification and experience requirements

 

• Describe both the expectations of the role and the company culture

 

A great job description opens a window into what the job is actually like, and helps you attract the right candidates. Rather than reinventing the wheel for every new posting, work with software that delivers consistently high-quality job descriptions that streamline the recruitment process.

Respect Candidates’ Time

 

A 2023 study of 240,000 job candidates found that the biggest reason candidates dropped out was their time being disrespected. This goes much deeper than petulance. Poor communication and a lack of feedback are unfair to candidates juggling multiple commitments. This could also alienate candidates who could be crucial to the next stage of your company’s success.

 

A good question to ask is how long candidates currently spend in each stage of your hiring process. If you’re not sure, it’s time to upgrade to software that tracks key recruitment metrics. This will help you identify the pain points in your recruitment process and make needed changes.

Don’t Leave Them Hanging

 

Candidates deserve clear communication. Whether they’re not being moved forward from application to interview or they got the job, they need to know where they stand every step of the way.

 

Too often, a lack of communication results from scattered communications in-office. Talent acquisition and management software that uses a centralized communication hub keeps all members of your hiring team on the same page. Integrated communication tools allow you to keep candidates updated by text and email at every stage of the process. 

 

Candidates are looking for:

 

• Regular updates on what stage they are at in the hiring process

 

• Clear next steps if they are being moved forward

 

• A rejection letter or email stating clearly why they are not being moved forward

 

Implementing these three simple points can make the hiring process more transparent and satisfying, reducing frustration and leading to happier new hires.

Elevate The Candidate Experience With HireOnboard

 

Your human resources are your company’s biggest asset. Before they even start working for you, give them an experience they will never forget. 

 

HireOnboard helps you source, select, and hire the right individuals for your organization. It streamlines the hiring process by leveraging artificial intelligence and integrating software that handles everything from job posts to onboarding. Your candidates will appreciate an approach that values their time and helps them seamlessly integrate into your organization.

 

See for yourself what HireOnboard can do for your business. Book a demo today!