Candidate experience is everything when it comes to sourcing the best talent for the job. From your job description to communication during the interview process, everything you do gives your applicants a look into what it will be like to work with your company.
Here's how it leads to finding better talent in a virtual world, plus a few tips to improve your candidate experience.
Right now, the job market is candidate-driven. This means that your applicants are choosing your company, not the other way around. Generally, they do this by gauging their experience during the application process to see if they want to work with you or not. This judgment begins from the moment they encounter a job post or begin communicating with your organization.
Creating a positive experience will help improve others' overall perception of your business. People within the industry will talk to one another about the experience with your company. When you are known for having a negative candidate experience, you will receive fewer applicants, and you will not land the top talent you are searching for.
So, how do you go about improving this experience?
The candidate experience begins with your job description. It is essential to be clear in the description you provide. Let each applicant know what the job entails, salary information, and any benefits available. It is also a good idea to include information about your company culture and how your employees work with one another. This will draw more top talent because it is clearly stated as to what they can expect by becoming a member of your team.
Let your applicants know what the next steps are. When they submit their resume or application through your website or job posting, create an automatic response letting them know when they will hear from you. State what the steps are, how long it may take, and who they can contact with questions. It is common for employers to take up to three months to fill a position. However, top talent only stays on the job market for about ten days. So, being clear about the process can help you keep them engaged and let them know where they stand.
Create an area of your website dedicated to open positions within your organization. Many applicants will visit your website to see if there are any jobs available. Having a section of your site for jobs specifically makes it easier to apply. Similarly, in your job postings elsewhere, you should clearly outline how they can apply and make the process as easy as possible.
Working with a staffing agency can help you improve your overall candidate experience. Because these firms work to source quality applicants and do most of the vetting themselves, they can provide a good experience up to the first interview with the company. Contact Timpl to see how our team of professionals can help your organization.