Simple Ways to Improve Your Candidate Experience
April 25, 2024 | Search Hiring Tips
How do you effectively compete for top talent when you have limited resources?
Improving your communication and interview processes can give you a competitive advantage without any expense! Even amidst the chaos of a startup, respect and timely communication go a long way in attracting the best hires for your team. When candidates feel valued, it strengthens your mission’s appeal and boosts your chances of having them accept your offer over others they may be considering.
Here are some simple best practices you can follow to improve your candidate experience:
Respond Promptly to Initial Interest: Don’t let your best candidates lose interest while you’re putting out fires! When someone applies to your job posting online, aim to reply within a few days. If you’re swamped with applications, get help to prioritize the standouts. For candidates that you or your recruiter have proactively engaged, you should try to respond even faster – ideally within one day, or at least communicate if it’ll take longer. Remember, recruited candidates are typically in demand. Demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm by getting them scheduled for an interview promptly.
Set Expectations: From the first call, be transparent about your hiring process. How many rounds will there be and who will they be meeting with? What is the estimated timeline? Encourage candidates to keep you in the loop if they get another offer or are in the final stages elsewhere. This shows you’re engaged and invested in the process.
Follow Through: At the end of each interview, let the candidate know when they can expect to hear about next steps. Encourage them to reach out with questions or updates about their job search, and reply to them in a timely manner. Never let more than a week go by without being in touch with a top candidate!
Close the Loop: A great recruiter acts as a candidate’s guide through the process and ensures a good experience, even for those not selected. For candidates who took the time to interview, let them know right away if they haven’t been selected, and share any feedback that you think they’ll appreciate. (A tricky subject, to be covered in more depth in a separate post.) This builds long-term goodwill for your brand.
Remember, exceptional climate tech talent is in demand. The best candidates are selective. Give your company an edge by communicating with respect, responsiveness, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Even though these practices take a bit more effort in the short run, they will ultimately save you time and money because your hiring processes will yield much better results.
–Chris Berkner, CEO