When it comes to the hiring process many employers are failing to live up to candidate expectations. They ask for too much information and take too long to make key decisions. Our friends at Greenhouse, the hiring software company have a new report out that contains some numbers to be aware of.
Entitled the Greenhouse Candidate Experience Report, a survey of over 1,500 employees and job seekers, Greenhouse discovered a staggering statistic;
It found that over 60% of job seekers are unimpressed by time-consuming recruitment processes and are demanding companies create a more modern recruiting experience. Candidates who face lengthy initial applications, slow recruiter response times and follow-ups, unprepared and late interviewers, inconsistent feedback, and ghosting will be quick to move on and companies will suffer as a result.
60% is a huge number considering the state of the current job market where companies cant find enough talent to staff their organizations. Hiring technology is holding these employers back as candidates get lost in the system.
Other findings in the survey showed consistent themes around poor candidate experience and recruiter responsiveness:
- More than 70% of job seekers said they will not submit a job application if it takes longer than 15 minutes to complete.
- Almost 58% of candidates expect to hear back from companies in one week or less regarding their initial application.
- Over 70% of job seekers want feedback on an interview. More than 60% said that receiving feedback during the interview process, even if they do not receive a job offer, would make them more inclined to apply to future jobs at that company.
- More than 75% of job seekers have been ghosted after an interview.
The survey results also found that many employers are failing to create a positive and inclusive interview experience. Almost 43% of candidates have had their name mispronounced in a job interview. Pronouncing every candidate’s name correctly is not just common courtesy, it’s a crucial behavior for achieving true workplace inclusivity and creating a culture of belonging.
“The results of our latest survey are a call to action for all companies. We’re in the midst of a real role reversal, and the talent pool has never been more selective and vocal about what they want from an employer,” said Daniel Chait, CEO and Co-founder, Greenhouse. “Whereas employers previously ruled out candidates for trivial issues like spelling errors on their resume, now it’s the candidates who are rejecting employers. Companies who are too slow in responding, are careless with how they treat candidates, or who don’t show their commitment to DE&I are losing out on talent.”
In 2021, the average Greenhouse customer created 46% more job listings than in 2020, meaning that job seekers have more options in open roles available. During this same timeframe, the data shows the volume of applications per job has decreased by 21%, showing that candidates are becoming more selective on how they spend their time searching for jobs.
“In 2019, just before the start of the pandemic we had historic low unemployment and just had hit the plateau of more jobs than those on unemployment,” said Tim Sackett, TA & HR Expert and President at HRU Technical Resources. “We should have predicted The Great Reshuffling, which is about opportunity. Opportunity for candidates who have been stuck in a job and company they didn’t like. Because now, it’s companies who are being interviewed by candidates. From the job application to your website and every communication touchpoint, candidates are making decisions on who they want to work for and companies need to up their game. Companies who deliver a great candidate experience and a great employee experience will reap the benefits of this great reshuffling.”
As demand for talent intensifies, companies need to do better at making the hiring process as seamless as possible for prospective employees. Not doing so imperils your efforts.
