Job candidates need to feel plugged in to the hiring process and want the interview process to be "meaningful and considerate," not opaque and disconnected.
That advice comes from ManpowerGroup Solutions, where folks know a thing or two about job candidates. The firm surveyed a couple hundred people looking for work to see how things were going in the super-charged talent acquisition market.
What came back was that more than a third of respondents "want organizations to initiate more frequent conversations in all phases of the hiring process. This includes status updates at key stages, such as completion of background checks, and even feedback on why the candidate didn't get the position, if that is the outcome."
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A third also said they just wanted more information about the job and the company to help them assess the opportunity more accurately from their perspective.
"Technology is turning into a hygiene factor – it's a basic expectation. But companies don't need the latest and greatest technology as much as they need to make sure their interactions with candidates are meaningful and considerate," said Melissa Hassett, vice president of client delivery, ManpowerGroup Solutions RPO. "Personal interaction and individualization of the recruiting process goes a long way toward attracting the best talent. And letting people know as soon as they're not selected is just good manners. That's what protects the employer brand."
ManpowerGroup Solutions offered the following tips for those in the recruiting game:
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Automate less, talk more: Company reputations suffer when proactive candidates attempt to follow-up on their applications, only to be lost in endless voicemail.
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Touch at the touch points: Candidates should receive calls at critical milestones of the hiring process, such as completion of background checks and drug tests.
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Tell them when they're out: Candidates want employers to tell them when they are out of the running – at any point along the process.
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Referrals come first: Employee referral programs are only successful if the referrals are considered before other applicants.
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Don't be coy about compensation: Everything related to compensation and benefits should be spelled out as early in the process as the organization feels comfortable.
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Use social media: Savvy companies encourage social media use by employees and don't script or control their messaging.
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Get out the welcome wagon: Inviting a smaller number of pre-screened candidates to a hiring event satisfies their preferences for being able to present their qualifications in person.
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Smart phones, smart candidates: While many of today's candidates want a human connection, they also want to be able to access information and application processes directly from their smartphones.
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The "just-in-time" candidate information delivery system: Employers interested in improving the candidate experience should ask only for the information necessary at each step in the process.
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
