I am surprised how many people involved in hiring neglect the candidate experience. The Insurance market for one, is fiercely competitive. Attracting and retaining top people requires more than just competitive salaries and benefits. It demands compelling employer branding that resonates with potential candidates and showcases a company as an exceptional place to work. A strong employer brand influences a candidate perception, drives engagement and ultimately, secures the best people in the market.
A positive candidate experience matters because every touchpoint in the recruitment process shapes how people view an organisation. Make the interview process easy. Make decisions fast. Top quality, highly skilled candidates are often interviewing elsewhere and receiving multiple competing offers. Gone are the days when people interview at one company and wait for a lengthy interview process to reach its conclusion.
Candidates today ask me – What makes this company unique? What are their core values? What kind of culture do they have? They look beyond surface-level statements. They want to see a company’s values and culture in action and the positive impact these values have on their people, the industry and the community.
The candidate experience extends beyond the interview process. Timely updates and feedback to candidates at every stage of the process, even if they are not selected for the role, is a must. It shows you respect their time and effort. When people feel genuinely looked after during the recruitment process, they can become your most powerful brand advocates.
The job market today is very interesting. There is a lot of talk about it being an employer’s market, but I believe it is a candidate driven market. They hold the power. They know there is a shortage of skilled people in most industries and the way they are treated shapes their willingness to recommend your company or our recruitment agency to their professional network. Let’s make the candidate experience truly matter.