Faced with a shortage of talent, it’s become increasingly important for companies to rethink their approach to talent acquisition. Most applicants can change their minds about a role or company based on a positive or negative candidate experience. Job seekers now tend to weigh opportunities differently and a candidate’s experience with a company’s hiring process will affect their decision to move forward with an application.
For some time now, candidate experience has been front and center in discussions about recruitment strategy. Here are some of the reasons why candidate experience matters now more than ever.
The current LABOR MARKET IS CANDIDATE-DRIVEN
If you’re in the recruitment industry then the candidates are your customers. In the past, a candidate’s perception of the recruitment process wasn’t always considered a top priority. The common notion used to be — If a candidate really wants the job, then they must be willing to make the effort, even if it means being put through the wringer. Well, that may no longer hold true since candidates have the upper hand in today’s job market.
Given the current power shift, candidates— especially those with highly-skilled talent, are recognizing that they’re more valuable now. Companies need to adapt to this change and think of better ways to attract great talent. Mapping out all the steps in the hiring process and systematically improving it where necessary is important in order to remain competitive. As job seekers enjoy more options, delivering a great candidate experience allows companies to position themselves as one that’s worth working for.
Negative candidate experiences impacting employers
Everyone seeks to have a positive experience in all aspects of their lives. When job seekers feel disappointed or undervalued, they will move on to the next opportunity that delivers a better applicant experience. The hiring process will always have its hiccups but hiring managers should be wary about negative candidate experiences and how costly they can be.
Majority of applicants who feel they were treated poorly will most likely share their experience directly with people they know or post about it online. The internet and social media has made it easier for job seekers to spread the word about their bad experiences in message boards and online forums.
From the online application process, to the lack of communication, negative posts online can significantly limit your pool of candidates and impact hiring targets. Companies that don’t focus on improving the candidate experience journey will eventually end up harming their employer brand in the long run.
Candidate experience has evolved with technology
Job seekers tend to lose interest quickly if the application process is complicated, tedious and drawn-out. Companies and HR professionals should look at every aspect of the applicant experience. Consider integrating the right technology to eliminate parts of the process that can be a source of frustration for candidates.
Shifting many elements of hiring online allows candidates to move through the recruitment process quickly. Digital recruitment processes like video interviewing and pre-hire assessments allow companies to connect with candidates and evaluate them more efficiently. Once the application process has picked up steam, keep the momentum going by providing automated updates, follow-ups, personalized communications and candidate self-scheduling tools and other ways to keep communication lines active.
Embracing technology can contribute a lot to the ease and speed of hire. This gives companies more leg room to focus on other aspects of the hiring process while at the same time allowing them to be more more involved and engaged with a candidate’s journey.
Gain a competitive edge for quality candidates
With everyone working harder to find great talent, employers are coming up with more ways to try to get more people in the door. The best candidates are sought by many companies simultaneously. When competing employers are on equal footing, putting in the extra work to enhance positive interactions can do a lot in gaining a competitive edge.
Going above and beyond the basics of placing candidates shows how a company values people. The candidate experience should always evolve with the current job market and elevate not just your recruitment strategy but ultimately your employer brand.
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