3 Things Recruiters Can Do to Keep Good Candidates Interested in Their Company
By Laura Poisson and Carolyn Raitt
Finding the right talent is top of mind for every company.
From the time a candidate applies for a job at your company or receives an email from you inviting them to a phone screen, the candidate experience begins. Here are three things recruiters can do to create brand ambassadors out of every job applicant and keep good candidates interested in your company.
- Respond in a timely fashion: Everyone is busy, but time travels more slowly for those looking for a job. Whether it’s a confirmation that the resume was successfully submitted or your personal response to an email, phone call or text, respond within 24 hours. Every interaction reflects on your companies’ values, brand and process, it also sends a message to the other person as to whether they are important or not. Make everyone feel important.
- Do what you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do it: This is all about managing expectations. You don’t always have the answers or ability to control the hiring process, but you can let people know what’s happening and when there are changes to the expectations you have set. Doing this builds trust and credibility.
- Information is power: Information allows both parties to make informed decisions about next steps and it’s a two-way street. If you are interested in a candidate let them know where they stand and find out if they expect to have to make any decisions on other offers in the next couple of weeks; sometimes this can help hiring managers move things along. When it’s a rejection, it’s important to consider your company’s policies, and whenever possible give specific feedback.
“You have an impressive background and great experience in financial analysis; however we have identified a candidate with stronger project management skills which we will need in this role. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with your candidacy.”
Regardless of the outcome, candidates who are treated with respect and fairness during the interviewing process will reflect more positively on your company and they are having conversations with your candidate pool and your competitors.
