Candidate care might not be the first tool that comes to mind, however it’s an essential part of your recruitment toolkit. Getting candidate care right can be the difference between securing your first preference candidate or not. Likewise, candidate experience can influence whether or not unsuccessful applicants consider positions with your organisation in the future. Let’s take a look at how candidate care can make a difference and how to do it well.
Creating a positive candidate experience
Positive and meaningful candidate care requires personal attention and proactive communication. It is an ongoing experience throughout the recruitment process. What kind of response do people receive when enquiring about the position? Is there even an option to contact someone for more information? Are all applications acknowledged? Are candidates notified of the outcome of their application? If they are, how are they notified? Can unsuccessful candidates get feedback? These are just a few of the questions to consider that contribute to candidate care. If providing that care and attention is something you don’t have time to do, then partnering with a recruiter could be a wise move. At SULLIVAN Consulting, we find that both successful and unsuccessful candidates appreciate how we keep them updated on the progress of their application and make ourselves available to answer their questions.
Maintaining candidate engagement
One of the keys to recruiting successfully is maintaining candidate engagement. Without actively cultivating candidate engagement, employers risk losing candidates along the way. One reason for this is because candidates may accept an offer elsewhere. On the other hand, they may simply lose interest in the role or organisation due to poor candidate experience. How can you minimise this risk? By taking positive steps to help candidates feel engaged and valued. This can include, for example, letting candidates know what to expect and taking the time to answer their questions. Open a dialogue with candidates. Be proactive in communicating any changes or delays. Answer candidate questions. Of course, providing this level of attention and engagement takes time. For this reason, partnering with a recruitment company like SULLIVAN Consulting can help. We provide a personalised and professional experience for each candidate, every step of the way.
Demonstrating your employer values
Don’t forget that the recruitment process is not a one-way assessment. Candidates are also determining whether you are an organisation they want to work for. How employers treat candidates can be part of that. For instance, is the recruitment process efficient or drawn out? Are the steps in the process made clear? How are any delays handled? How quickly are decisions made? Is there personal communication? How are unsuccessful candidates treated? These are just some of the ways that candidates may assess an employer’s values. Therefore, getting the recruitment experience right for candidates is important. Get it wrong and candidates might reject any opportunities with your organisation. Get it right and even the unsuccessful candidates will still want to work for you in the future.
Candidate care is a significant part of recruiting, and not just for the successful candidate. Creating a positive candidate experience from the start can help to keep candidates engaged throughout the process. Good candidate care can encourage unsuccessful candidates to consider the same organisation again in the future. The quality of the recruitment experience is also one way that candidates can assess a potential employer’s values. So although candidate care can take time and effort, it is an important aspect of recruitment and a simple tool that shouldn’t be overlooked.
At SULLIVAN Consulting, we truly care about building long-lasting relationships — with our clients, our candidates, our suppliers and our community. To experience our difference, partner with us — you’ll be in good company. Contact the SULLIVAN Consulting team on 0407 610 989 or enquire@sullivanconsulting.com.au to discuss your needs and let’s talk about what we can do for you.
