According to a new study from CareerBuilder, the experiences candidates have with a company throughout the application process can make or break their impression of a company, not only affecting their decisions to apply and accept a job offer, but also their loyalty as customers.
The 2015 Candidate Behavior study, conducted by Inavero on behalf of CareerBuilder of more than 500 workers between February 3 and February 18, 2015, sheds light on the differences between what candidates expect from potential employers during the job application process and what employers actually deliver.
Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder, said that candidates can learn a lot about the company they’re applying for through the recruitment process.
“Today’s candidates expect ongoing communication from companies during the application process, and when companies fail to meet this expectation, it can be bad for business,” Haefner said.
“Candidates remember when companies don’t respond to them, fail to update them on the status of their application or don’t follow up after an interview. Not only do these experiences make candidates less likely to apply to the company again, but they also make them less likely to purchase from the company as customers.”
There is a small list of five facts which ever employer should know about the candidate experience, and how it reflects their business.
Candidates Expect More Than You’re Giving Them
For some candidates, the myth of the infamous application “black hole” is all too real. What these employers may not realise, however, is that not only do most candidates expect an automated reply that acknowledges their application, the majority (85 per cent) also expect a personal email response, and 41 percent anticipate a phone call. Even when the news isn’t what they hope to receive, candidates expect a response: 35 per cent expect to hear if the employer will not be bringing them in for an interview.
Employers May Be Missing Opportunities to Connect with Candidates
Job seekers may be searching for jobs in a lot of places where employers don’t have a presence. Candidates consult up to 13 resources throughout their job search – including job boards, social networking sites, search engines and online referrals. Employers should consider expanding their search strategy and track data on where their candidates are coming from to avoid missing opportunities to connect with candidates where they are actually searching.
Ongoing Communication is Critical for Candidates
When it comes to candidate communication, employers seem to be falling short of candidates’ expectations. 32 per cent of candidates expect to be updated throughout the application process, and 42 per cent expect to be notified if they weren’t chosen after they interviewed with the company. Even when they’ve made it as far into the process as an interview, many candidates are still left in the dark: Three in five (60 per cent) candidates who interviewed with companies said they were never given an explanation for why they didn’t get the job.
Candidates Are Frustrated with the Application Process
When it comes to keeping candidates engaged and interested in their opportunities, a company’s application process can be its own worst enemy. Forty-four per cent of candidates feel the application process has become more difficult in the last five years. Of those, almost half of the candidates complained that the process is too automated and lacks personalisation, whereas 38 per cent are frustrated they have no idea where they are in the process. Employers can reduce these frustrations by taking the time to respond to candidates, by keeping the lines of communication going and by minimising the number of steps candidates must go through during the application process.
