As companies struggle to find talent in a fierce job market, making sure your company presents itself to candidates in a way that resonates can make the difference between landing top-tier talent. First impressions matter; the earliest touch points between employers and potential employees often begin with the hiring process.
If your company is having lackluster results in its recruiting efforts, it might be time to look closely at these processes. Is your hiring approach focused too much on the company? Is it time to make the candidate the main focus?
Making the candidate the focus during the hiring process means creating an experience tailored towards assessing, engaging, and accommodating the needs and expectations of the job applicant. It shifts the perspective from merely evaluating how well the candidate fits into predefined company roles to considering how the company can best present itself to prospective hires.
In this week’s blog, we take a look at a revolution happening in the hiring process. The change agent? The candidate’s experience during that process.
The Hiring Process – A Two-Way Street
Today, the hiring process is no longer a one-way interaction where companies hold all the cards. Especially in today’s job market, it’s become a dialogue, a two-way street, where both the employer and the candidate are assessing each other. This process is not just about finding the right candidate for the role. It’s also about creating a position that’s right for the candidate.
Think of the hiring process as much like a first date. Would you be interested if your date was late, handed you a questionnaire to fill out, and then vanished into thin air for weeks? This is an all-too-common experience for many candidates navigating the hiring process. They’re lost in a procedural wilderness, struggling to make sense of it all and waiting. Waiting for an interview, waiting for feedback, and then, ultimately, waiting to feel valued.
While employers sift through applications to find the ideal candidate, they sometimes need to remember that prospective hires are also evaluating them.
Candidate-Focused Hiring Processes
Making the candidate the main focus during the hiring process is not just beneficial for the applicant; it can also be a game-changer for companies struggling to find top talent. How can a company create a process that not only assesses candidates but also engages them and accommodates their expectations? Here are some basic principles that contribute to a candidate-focused hiring process:
- Respect Their Time. During the hiring process, candidates are not only showing interest in your organization, but they are also investing their time. Respect this investment by looking at ways to streamline interviews and assessments to be comprehensive and efficient. Providing swift responses and feedback also shows that you value the candidate’s time.
- Recognize Their Uniqueness. Rather than just another application to process, every candidate is unique with their own skills and experiences. Show them you respect this by personalizing their journey. Do your homework on their background, address them by name, and ask insightful questions. This simple recognition can go a long way toward making candidates feel seen and valued.
- Open the Lines of Communication. Open, honest communication forms the backbone of a great candidate experience. Prospective applicants deserve to know where they stand. Be upfront about timelines; if delays occur, keep candidates in the loop. Remember, any news is better than no news at all.
- The Power of Feedback Whether it’s a “yes” or a “no,” feedback is invaluable. It provides closure and fosters personal growth. Even if a candidate isn’t the right fit, thoughtful feedback can turn a rejection into a learning opportunity and build respect for your brand.
A Win-Win for All
By enhancing the candidate experience during the hiring process, you’re not only improving your approach but also boosting your brand. Candidates who’ve been treated well during the hiring process become brand ambassadors, creating a ripple effect that brings more talent to your door.
Remember, candidates are not just potential hires but potential customers, collaborators, and influencers. Crafting a positive journey for them builds your reputation and strengthens your brand.
The candidate experience is more than just a nice-to-have; it’s the future of recruitment. By making the candidate the star of the show, you’re not just filling a vacancy; you’re building a community that is invested in your brand.
Vernovis – Where Client and Candidate Experience is Important
At Vernovis, we understand the recruiting process is a two-way street. We believe that to do our job well, we must serve both our clients and candidates in ways that exceed everyone’s expectations. Our insight into what job candidates want and understanding of the needs of hiring managers make Vernovis unique. It enables us to do more than just fill a company’s staffing shortfalls; it also promotes lasting professional relationships, increasing job satisfaction and better business performance with companies. Learn more about how Vernovis can help you fill talent shortfalls. Contact us today.
