Improving Candidate Experience to Increase Employee Engagement

Most companies don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what the hiring process is like for their candidates. This means that they end up with a process that candidates often find frustrating, with long applications, hiring processes burdened by too many interviews, and little to no communication from the company. The result of this candidate experience is that the natural excitement and positive feelings a new hire should bring with them on their first day are made weaker by memories of just how long it took to get there.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. With a little effort, your company can create a positive candidate experience for all of your applicants, and the results will have a lasting impact.

What does Candidate Experience Mean?

Candidate experience is the effect of your hiring process on the people who apply to work for your company. It starts when someone reads about working for your company and makes the decision to submit an application or resume.

A long, difficult hiring process is a great way to alienate candidates. No job is so exciting that a candidate will be thrilled to hear that they’ve been invited back for the fifth round of interviews, and no matter how great your company is, waiting three weeks for any kind of response is almost as bad as not hearing anything at all. And worse, over 70% of people who have a bad candidate experience will talk about it.

On the other hand, improving the candidate experience your company provides leads to candidates who are nearly 40% more likely to accept a job offer and who are more likely to work harder at their jobs. In other words, employees who have had a positive candidate experience are more likely to be engaged when they come to work.

So what can your company do to improve the experience of your candidates?

Improving the Candidate Experience

Just as there are a lot of benefits to having an improved candidate experience, there are a lot of ways to improve the experience for your company’s candidates.

Acknowledge receipt of resume

Make sure that everyone who applies for a job at your company gets an email acknowledging receipt of their resume. It may seem ridiculously simple, but the lack of response, even an acknowledgment that a resume was received, tops the list of candidate frustrations.

Use pre-employment testing

Ask candidates to complete a screening test at the time they apply for a position with your company. Pre-employment tests not only shorten your hiring process by allowing you to concentrate on the candidates that are most likely to be successful but also eliminates unconscious bias.

Communicate with candidates

There are so many ways to keep in touch today that there’s no reason why your company can’t stay in touch during the hiring process. Whether it’s by email, text messages, or even video chat, being accessible to candidates is a great way to make sure they feel appreciated and keep them in the loop.

Get creative with your job page

Most companies have a page on their website where jobs are listed and people who are interested can complete an application or submit a resume. It’s useful, but it’s also a wasted opportunity. Why not work with marketing and your IT team to provide more interesting content for candidates? You could provide video testimonials from employees about why your company is such a great place to work. Perhaps you could set up a Live Cam for your office’s fish tank, or you could invite candidates to an informal meet-and-greet with other employees. Whatever you do, make it fun and interesting for your candidates.

Let Optimum Staffing Solutions Guide You

Optimum Staffing Solutions can help both candidates and employers with the placement of accounting professionals. For the best staffing agencies in Greensboro, NC, as well as for the best staffing agencies in Charlotte, NC, contact Optimum Staffing Solutions.

A Greensboro temp agency, an Atlanta temp agency, as well as a Charlotte temp agency, Optimum, can provide your company with a highly skilled freelancer, contract, temporary, or direct hire professional along with HR Services. Of the temp agencies in Greensboro, NC, Atlanta, GA, and the temp agencies in Charlotte, NC, Optimum offers small to medium-sized businesses a wealth of talent to fill their positions.

Please visit our site to learn more: www.optimumstaffingsolution.com

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