We’d like to introduce you to Ben. He’s seeking a job at your company and he’s going to teach you a lot about the candidate experience.
First, you should know that the candidate journey is a perpetual cycle that loops back on itself again and again. Why? Because most job seekers don’t get hired for the first job they’re interested in.
In this case, Ben applies for a marketing job but is more qualified for a sales job, which is another role that’s also open at this time. But, like 50% to 60% of all candidates, Ben never makes it to the screening or interview stages for the sales job OR the marketing job.
This means your company rejects Ben for the marketing job, leaving him feeling frustrated. He has no idea that he’s qualified for the sales job that’s also open. What a missed opportunity.
Now let’s assume that Ben found out about the sales job somehow – perhaps through an ad or colleague – and he applies for it. He lands an interview, gets a second interview, but ultimately isn’t the perfect fit and someone else is hired.
Your company simply stops communicating with Ben, figuring the relationship is over. Once again, he’s left with a negative perception of the candidate experience. He never heard anything back from you!
Six months later, the sales job opens up again. Your hiring manager finds Ben’s resume in their files. They reach out to Ben, hoping for a positive reaction. After all, he was previously a finalist for the position.
Uh oh! Ben says, “No thanks.” You’ve already damaged your reputation with him, and he’s spent the past six months telling his friends, family members, colleagues, and social media followers about your company’s poor candidate experience.
What could you be doing differently? Continue reading below to find out more about how to improve candidate experience in recruitment.
INFOGRAPHIC: The Perpetual Candidate Cycle
Attraction: How to Create a Great Candidate Experience
The earliest phase of the talent acquisition process is the attraction phase. This is your first opportunity to make a connection and it happens before anyone ever applies.
Remember, the attraction phase can happen anywhere at any time because the candidate experience is a 24/7 interactive experience. People are often passively looking for jobs, even when they don’t feel like active job searchers.
Branding is a built-in part of the process that permeates every aspect of the candidate experience. Your brand is a big part of why someone wants to work for you. Your culture and values must resonate with them to attract them strongly enough to apply