Is your candidate experience putting off top talent?

Looking after candidates through their application journey can make or break your hiring process. In fact, 63% of applicants say a negative candidate experience would make them think twice about accepting a job offer. 

But what is candidate experience anyway and is it really that important? It’s the overall vibe candidates get during the recruitment and hiring process. It's all about giving them the warm and fuzzies about your company's culture and values, and leaving them with a positive impression. 

Let's look at 7 reasons why your current candidate experience might be failing your recruitment process...

1. Your competitors get the best talent

In today’s competitive job market, a positive, streamlined candidate experience can set you apart from other companies when attracting the best and brightest job seekers in your industry. According to research by Jobvite, 39% of job seekers who received multiple job offers said that the speed of the hiring process was the most important factor in their decision-making process. By prioritizing candidate experience, you can boost candidate engagement and create a competitive advantage to attract the best candidates and help your business succeed.

2. Candidates trash your business online

Candidates who have a negative experience with your company may not only turn their backs on your job offer, but could also discourage others from doing business with you. On the other hand, candidates who have a positive experience are more likely to become loyal customers and brand ambassadors, even if they aren’t offered a job. In fact, according to Software Advice, 71% of candidates who had a positive experience in their recruitment process said they would be more likely to buy the company’s products or services in the future.

3. You breed disengaged employees

When candidates have a positive experience and are engaged throughout the hiring process, they’re more likely to accept job offers, become engaged employees, and refer other talented candidates to your company. By contrast, when candidates have a negative experience, they’re more likely to turn down job offers, leave the company early, or spread negative feedback to their network. A study by CareerArc revealed that 72% of candidates who had a poor experience shared it online or with someone directly.

4. You hire the wrong people

When you engage candidates fully, communicate with them clearly throughout the process, and give them an overall positive experience, you're more likely to hire the right person for the job and motivate the very best candidates to accept your offer. By improving the quality of your hires, you’ll boost your company's productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Win, win, win!

5. You damage your employer brand

The hiring process can give candidates a first glimpse into your company's culture and values. By treating candidates well and providing a positive experience, you can create a strong reputation as a great place to work. This can lead to more referrals and attract top talent to your organization. On the other hand, a negative experience can quickly damage your reputation and make it harder to find great candidates in the future.

6. You are less diverse and inclusive

By providing a positive candidate experience that embodies your Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, you can attract a diverse pool of candidates and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. A study by ILO found that employees in 60% of companies worldwide report that their profitability and productivity increased due to inclusive policies promoting diversity, while ability to retain and attract talent increased by 55%.

7. You waste time and money

By creating a streamlined hiring process that prioritizes candidate experience, you can reduce the time and cost associated with recruiting and onboarding. This can lead to a more efficient and effective hiring process that benefits both the company and candidates.

Don't underestimate the power of a positive experience for both the candidate and your company! If you suspect that your current candidate experience is falling short, read on to to turn it around.

• Speed up the recruitment process: 

Long and cumbersome processes are frustrating for candidates, causing them to lose interest or look for opportunities elsewhere. In fact, research by Jobvite confirmed that 26% of candidates who had a negative experience during the recruitment process blamed it on the hiring process being too long. Tools like VideoAsk allow you to conduct pre-recorded video interviews and easily schedule live interviews to unblock bottlenecks and keep your recruitment process moving. 

• Treat candidates like customers:

To help create a positive reputation and brand image, treat your candidates like they’re your customers. This includes unselected candidates who may still share their experience with others, become brand ambassadors for your company, apply for a role in the future that’s a better fit, or refer top talent to your company.

• Communicate clearly and frequently with candidates:

No-one likes to be left hanging, especially after putting so much time and effort into application and interview preparation (a CareerArc study shows the typical candidate spends about 3-4 hours preparing and submitting just one job application). Keep candidates informed at every stage of the recruitment process and respond to their questions and concerns in a timely manner to build trust and keep them engaged.

• Provide a positive and professional interview experience:

Make candidates feel comfortable and valued by providing a smooth and pleasant (or dare we say even fun?) interview experience. This helps them perform at their best while leaving a positive impression of your company. Put candidates at ease by sending them an interactive video to learn more about the application process before scheduling a live interview. 

• Offer constructive feedback:

Giving candidates feedback at each stage of the recruitment process can help them improve and feel valued. A survey by LinkedIn found candidates are 4 times more likely to consider your company for a future opportunity when you offer them constructive feedback.

• Personalize your approach:

Virtual recruitment can be cold and impersonal. Use an interactive video tool like VideoAsk to connect with candidates personally and at scale. This helps to humanize the recruitment process, stand out from the competition, and build faster and stronger relationships with candidates.

• Request and respond to feedback from candidates:

Send candidates a candidate experience survey and make sure they know that their opinion matters to you. This will help you identify areas for improvement and show candidates that you value their opinions.

• Incorporate the latest technology into your hiring process: 

Using a candidate engagement platform or interactive video software like VideoAsk that integrates with your Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can help automate and personalize communication with candidates, improve their experience, and ultimately boost engagement and retention.

These tools provide a seamless and convenient experience for candidates, allowing them to:

• Apply more easily

• Get a sneak peek into the company culture and team

• Schedule interviews

• Receive updates on the hiring process 

By leveraging these technologies, you can save time, streamline and simplify your recruitment process, and create a positive impression of your company.