In today’s competitive talent acquisition landscape, maintaining candidate engagement throughout the hiring process is crucial. The unfortunate reality is many candidates are considering multiple opportunities at once, and even the smallest factor such as delayed communication or feedback from interviews, could sway their decision. An engaged candidate is more likely to stay enthusiastic about the opportunity. Here are 5 simple strategies to ensure candidates remain engaged from initial contact to the final decision.
- Clear Communication from the Start
From the first interaction, set clear expectations regarding the interview process. Provide a detailed timeline, outline the steps involved and let candidates know what to expect at each stage. Importantly, stick to it. If the process ends up taking longer than expected, be transparent. If working with a recruiter, it’s important that they are consistently looped in to updates so this can feed through to the candidate. Transparency helps reduce anxiety and keeps candidates informed and prepared.
Whether a candidate advances to the next stage or not, providing constructive feedback is essential. Positive feedback reinforces their strengths, while constructive criticism helps them improve for future opportunities. Taking too long to provide feedback and inform candidates on the next stages of the journey has shown to damage the process, with candidates progressing with other roles. This is something which the Peopleconnexion consultant’s frequently experience. Clients cannot afford to keep candidates waiting and lose them in the process.
- Personalised Interaction
Treat each candidate as an individual. Personalise your communication by referencing specific details from their resume or previous conversations. It doesn’t matter how small or big the detail was, its what’s going to make them feel special that you remembered and will result in them feeling valued and appreciated.
Create opportunities for candidates to interact with potential colleagues and team members. This could be through panel interviews, informal meet-and-greet sessions, or virtual coffee chats. Interactive elements give candidates a better sense of the team dynamics and help build connections.
- Timely Updates
Just like point 1, keep candidates informed of their status regularly. Even if there are no significant updates, in our experience, a quick message to let them know the process is ongoing can reassure them and is always greatly appreciated. The greatest feedback we receive as a recruitment agency is the level of constant communication throughout the process, however our communication relies on hiring manages of clients also being prompt, transparent and consistent.
After each interview stage, follow up promptly. Ask questions. What they think of the role and their application. Thank candidates for their time, provide feedback, and outline the next steps. Timely follow-up reinforces your professionalism and keeps candidates engaged.
- Provide Resources and Support
Offer resources to help candidates prepare for interviews. This could include information about the company culture, insights into the team they will be meeting, or tips for success in the interview. We have a comprehensive Jobs and Resources guide on our website which helps candidates fully prepare and feel that extra level of support needed in what is often anxious and vulnerable periods in their career. Providing support shows your commitment to their success and can help alleviate any nerves they might have.
- Showcase Company Culture – EVPs
Company branding is essential. In a Glassdoor survey, 77% of job seekers considered a company’s culture before applying. Use the interview process as an opportunity to showcase the company culture, values and general employee value proposition (EVP). Share stories, videos, or testimonials that highlight what makes the organisation a great place to work and uncovers the EVP. Video content, particularly employee-generated content, is highly effective, with 80% of people stating it improves their understanding of a job.
Keeping candidates engaged during the interview process requires consistent communication, regular feedback, personalisation, and transparency. By providing support, showcasing company culture, and also just maintaining enthusiasm, hiring managers can create a positive experience that keeps candidates excited about the opportunity.