Attracting top talent in today’s market is no easy feat. Candidates have much higher standards for employers than ever before, and many aspects of your organization can be assessed at the earliest stages of the application process. If you’re recruiting talent, it’s essential that you provide an excellent experience to candidates regardless of whether they are an initial applicant or a finalist for a high-level role.
Implementing a positive candidate experience can help prospects develop a positive mindset around your organization and ensure your recruitment team retains a strong network of talent. Studies have shown that interviewees who have a great experience with a company are more likely to apply again in the future and recommend the organization to friends and others in their network.
Don’t risk tarnishing your company’s reputation with a poor hiring process. Here are easily implementable tips to develop a positive recruitment experience for potential hires.
Streamline the Application Process
Streamlining your application process can not only help improve the candidate experience, but it can also lead to larger pool of prospects. If it’s too cumbersome for someone to apply to a role with your organization, it’s easy for that individual to balk and move on. Primarily, you’ll want to ensure that the application form is easy to find and complete. Ensure your job page is easily located on your company’s website, and take time to complete the process yourself to better understand any potential hurdles prospective candidates may encounter when applying.
In an effort to reach more candidates, recruiters are now posting roles on a variety of job platforms, including LinkedIn and Indeed. These platforms make it easy for job seekers to find opportunities that match their skills and apply using saved resumes. Accepting applications through these portals can exponentially increase your application pool with high-quality applicants. Once those resumes come in, plan to implement resume parsing software to quickly and accurately extract relevant information, such as work experience and education. This can save time and resources by eliminating the need for manual data entry while also ensuring that information is entered correctly.
Provide Timely and Personalized Communication
Communication is perhaps the most crucial element in creating a great candidate experience. If you’re in touch directly with a potential hire, be sure to promptly respond to any inquiries. This can include answering questions about the role, the company, and the application process. Responding quickly can help show that the company values the candidate’s interest and is willing to invest time in them. Even if you aren’t in touch directly, always follow up on applications once received. This gives prospective hires peace of mind knowing that their resume is under active consideration and wasn’t lost in the system.
Once a resume has been received and initially reviewed, plan to keep candidates continually informed about the status of their application. This can include sending updates on next steps in the process, providing feedback on their qualifications, or letting them know when they will hear back from the company. Keeping candidates informed can help keep them engaged and build trust with your HR team and hiring managers. When communicating, always address candidates by name and tailor messages as appropriate. Personalized communication can make candidates feel valued and build a positive relationship that may lead to long-term employment in the future.
Offer Support and Resources Throughout
Offering candidates support throughout the hiring process can help to create a positive candidate experience and ensure that candidates feel valued and supported. This starts with the initial application. Always provide clear instructions and guidelines for the application process. This can include information on how to apply, what to include in a resume or cover letter, and what to expect during the interview stage. You expect candidates to be transparent when they apply, and they expect the same from their potential employers.
To make your organization stand out, you could also consider offering resources to help candidates prepare for interviews. This can include resume reviews and mock interview practice. This type of support shows that the company values the candidate’s time and effort while also leading to better quality applicants. And even if a candidate isn’t ultimately selected, it’s always wise to provide specific, actionable feedback as soon as possible. Not only can this feedback help them increase their chances of success in the future, but it also helps potential hires develop a positive mindset around your organization.
Bottom Line
Drastically improving the candidate experience doesn’t take a lot of time or money. By simplifying your application process, tweaking your communication templates, and offering support to prospects, you’ll be able to better attract top talent and ensure candidates retain a positive perception of your company and recruitment team, even if they are not ultimately hired.
To really amp up your recruitment experience, consider the advantages of an online recruitment tool. These platforms can boost efficiency while also automating resume intake, communication, and candidate follow-ups. ScaleFront is one such platform that was developed with the mission of taking the pain out of hiring. Whether you’re looking for short-term project workers or long-term hires, ScaleFront puts top talent in your pipeline.
If you’re looking for an easy solution to find the right candidates and build better connections, give ScaleFront a try today!
