How to Deliver Great Candidate Experiences

1: Maintain Transparent Communication

In the realm of candidate experience, clear and frequent communication takes center stage. This includes not just conveying the hiring process details, but also setting clear expectations regarding timelines, next steps, and response times. Promptly addressing candidates’ inquiries and concerns reduces their anxiety and demonstrates your company’s commitment to transparency.

Use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to automate status updates and notifications. For instance, send an automatic acknowledgement once an application is received, then follow up with regular updates about their application status. Such systems help prevent communication gaps and ensure that candidates are kept informed throughout the process.

Best Practice: Establish a consistent communication protocol to avoid leaving candidates in the dark. Whether it’s a rejection or an invitation for an interview, timely and clear communication is paramount.

2: Create a Personalized Experience

Personalization goes a long way in making candidates feel valued. A personalized recruitment process is about acknowledging the unique qualifications and interests of each candidate and crafting tailored messages to make them feel seen and understood.

Rather than sending generic emails, personalize your communication. For example, you could mention something the candidate said during the interview that left a positive impression. This shows that you were attentive and value their input.

Best Practice: Use technology to personalize at scale. Many recruitment software programs offer features that allow you to customize communication based on individual candidate data.

3: Simplify the Application Process

To attract top talent, your application process should be simple, straightforward, and user-friendly. A complex process can deter otherwise interested candidates.

Minimize the number of steps in your application process. For instance, use LinkedIn integrations that allow candidates to apply with their LinkedIn profile, bypassing the need for manual data entry.

Best Practice: Regularly audit your application process to ensure it’s as streamlined as possible. This might involve testing the application process yourself or gathering feedback from recent applicants.

4: Provide Constructive Feedback

 Providing candidates with feedback is an investment in your employer brand. Even if a candidate is not the right fit for a current role, they might be a perfect match for a future opportunity.

If a candidate isn’t selected after the interview phase, provide them with constructive feedback. This can be something like, “We were impressed with your presentation skills, but we opted for a candidate with more experience in project management.”

Best Practice: Balance honesty and tactfulness in your feedback. Aim to provide value while respecting the candidate’s feelings.

5: Express Gratitude

Taking the time to thank candidates for their interest and efforts underscores your respect for their time and reinforces a positive impression of your company.

A simple thank-you email or a handwritten note can set your company apart. This small gesture goes a long way towards fostering a positive candidate experience.

Best Practice: Implement a process to thank all applicants, whether they were successful or not. This could be an automated email sent at the end of their application process.

6: Pursue Continuous Improvement

An exceptional candidate experience hinges on your company’s willingness to continuously improve. Regularly collect and analyze feedback to understand how your recruitment process is perceived and where improvements are needed.

Send out post-interview surveys to candidates asking about their experience. Questions might include, “How would you rate your overall candidate experience?” or “What can we improve in our hiring process?”

Best Practice: Use candidate feedback to inform changes in your recruitment process. Consider conducting periodic reviews with your hiring team to discuss feedback and brainstorm improvements.