Why candidate experience matters to your business

In today's cutthroat job market, candidate experience is the not-so-secret ingredient for hiring success. We're not talking about serving up fancy hors d'oeuvres or unlimited booze (although that might help too). We're talking about the overall impression that a company makes on job seekers during the hiring process, from the moment they submit their application to the final decision.

Here's the deal: If a candidate has a bad experience during the application process, they're more likely to take a hike and ghost you like that Tinder date last week. Worse yet, if they have a really bad experience, they're going to tell their network about it and you'll end up being the joke of the town, like that time I tried to pass off a bottle of cheap wine as a 20-year-old Scotch. Trust me, it didn't go well.

On the flip side, if you create a positive candidate experience, you're going to have top talent knocking on your door like home security salespeople. And not only that, but they'll actually accept your job offer, which means you can finally stop swiping right on LinkedIn.

But how do you create a positive candidate experience? Here are some tips that might help:

• Keep the application process simple and straightforward. Don't make candidates jump through hoops like they're auditioning for Cirque du Soleil.
• Communicate effectively and keep candidates in the loop. Don't leave them in the dark like that one guy who disappeared mid-date.
• Personalize the experience and make them feel like a VIP. Use their name, and don't treat them like they're just another fish in the sea.
• And for the love of all that is good in this world, please don't ask irrelevant or inappropriate questions during the interview process. Newsflash: the candidate's final mark in grade 11 math isn't going to tell you anything about whether they can do your job.

In conclusion, if you want to attract and retain top talent, you need to give a damn about the candidate experience. A bad experience can lead to high dropout rates, negative feedback, and missed opportunities. But a positive experience can lead to increased engagement, reduced recruitment costs, and a great reputation as an employer. So, go out there, treat your candidates like they're royalty, and let the talent come to you.

Strapped for time and want a hand putting together a kick-ass candidate experience? Book a call with us at Hoops HR let us go to work for you.