How to Create a Positive Candidate Experience During The Recruiting Process

Tips on how to get top talent candidates

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.

Strategies in attracting top talent candidates for a job

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.

Best recruitment strategy for great candidate experience

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!

ScaleFront is a top recruiting platform to get top talent in the pipeline

Laid Off From Work? Here’s What To Do Now

laid off from work

News of recent layoffs at industry giants including Goldman Sachs, Twitter, Stripe, and Microsoft have rocked the job market in recent months. As the threat of a recession looms, companies are looking to slash payrolls in anticipation of lower-than-expected earnings in the near future. While that may be good for the bottom line, thousands of workers are finding themselves without a job or under threat of imminent unemployment.

Why being laid off is good

If you’ve recently been laid off, know that you are not alone. Many have been where you are now and have come out stronger on the other end. This is temporary. And although the feeling can be jarring, it’s important to take some steps now to be sure you’re ready to start your next opportunity when the time comes.

Get All Your Ducks in a Row

Receiving a notice of termination or furlough isn’t the end of the story. If you’ve already been laid off, be sure you have all the documentation from your former employer. Do you have insurance in order? Are you entitled to any type of compensation or benefits as part of your severance? Have you checked on your final paycheck and reviewed your 401(k) contributions? 

Ensuring you have the proper documentation from the HR department and filing for unemployment are crucial for your own security. You’ll also want to do some research to be sure your employer was compliant with local employment law in their actions. While these steps can be daunting, they are the most important and time-sensitive tasks to ensure you’re able to get back on your feet.

What to do when laid off? Get all your ducks in a row.

Think Positively

There’s no sugarcoating it – layoffs suck. But, it’s important to remember that they’re not indicators of your skillset or performance as an employee. Oftentimes, they are the end result of things beyond your control. When thinking back to your time at your previous employer, focus on what went well and what you’re looking for in the future.

Many people use this time to reset and go after new opportunities that they’ve long been interested in. Set some time aside to consider what makes you happy and how you’ll achieve what’s next for you. Although this feels like an uncertain time, it can be a time of personal growth and opportunity. Don’t wallow; embrace it.

Get through from being laid off by thinking positively.

Leverage Your Network

You’ve spent years working hard and building a network. Now’s the time to put it to use. Even if you feel like you don’t have strong connections, there are likely dozens of former coworkers, managers and even friends who would be more than willing to connect you with new opportunities.

You don’t have to even reveal that you were laid off or ask outright for help. You can simply mention that you’re interested in something new and ask if they know of any options that might be a good fit. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but, if you don’t put yourself out there, you may miss out on the support your network can offer. Services like LinkedIn and ScaleFront can also provide you with easy access to online professional networks where you can exchange resumes and connect with others who are searching for talent.

Use network to build opportunities

Consider Freelance in the Interim

While job searching can feel like a full-time job, don’t feel like you have to wait for a job offer before you can actually start working. Freelancing can be a great way to add some extra cash to your pocket while also allowing you to hone existing skills and learn new ones. Some laid off workers have even built whole new careers as a result of freelancing following severance from full-time employment.

Whether you’re a developer, content writer, or social media expert, there are plenty of freelance websites where you can get started. If you’re looking for project work, ScaleFront has options from top tech companies who are recruiting for these services right now. You can choose from short or long-term assignments that match your skills, earning you extra income and, in some cases, a path to permanent employment.

Consider freelancing work

Use ScaleFront to Find Your Next Opportunity

If your industry has reported recent layoffs, it’s understandable that you may be worried about your future. Whether you’ve already been laid off or are bracing for it, the good news is that work opportunities still abound in all sectors. It starts by knowing where to look.

ScaleFront is one great option. With an integrated recruiting platform and talent marketplace, you’ll be able to connect with qualified professionals from around the world who are looking for talent with your unique skills. And with customized filtering and an intelligent search platform, you’ll quickly find the exact open roles that match your background and interests. 

Whether you’re looking for a long-term opportunity or something during a transition period, give ScaleFront a shot today!

Find better opportunities with ScaleFront, the best recruitment platform.