The Cronofy Candidate Expectations Report 2023: Key Insights for Recruiters

Cronofy recently released its 2023 Candidate Expectations Report, providing valuable insights into what candidates want during the hiring process. I spoke with Mark Harbottle , Head of Talent at Cronofy, to dig into the report's findings and critical implications for recruiters.

Here are some of the top highlights from the report that recruiters should pay attention to:

Faster Interview Timelines Expected

The proportion of candidates expecting the interview process to take no longer than 6 days jumped from 30.5% in 2021 to 40% in 2023. Contributors likely include increased job demand, more accessible talent, and interview process digitisation enabling speed. Recruiters must meet these accelerated expectations.

Actions to take:

? Set expectations upfront with candidates around your typical hiring timeline and communicate timeline updates frequently.

? Look for ways to streamline and digitise interviews to condense timeframes.

? Get key hiring stakeholders aligned on prompt feedback timelines after each interview stage.

Responsiveness Has Become Critical

Candidates, especially in the UK and US, increasingly prioritise employer responsiveness during hiring. Recruiters must balance efficient workflows with a personal, responsive candidate experience. Lack of communication remains a top frustration.

Actions to take:

? Set SLA's (service level agreements) for response times to candidate inquiries at each stage. 24-48 hours should be the maximum.

? Proactively send confirmation and next step emails to candidates after interviews or assessments.

? Leverage automation like chatbots or scheduling tools to provide always-on support.

Tech Streamlining is Welcomed

Candidates appreciate technologies like automated scheduling that simplify and speed up hiring. However, human interaction remains vital. Recruiters should leverage tech to focus on relationship-building instead of administrative tasks.

Actions to take:

? Audit your hiring tech stack and identify opportunities to integrate platforms and digitize manual processes.

? Promote self-service scheduling, assessments, and communications to candidates.

? Train recruiters on new tech tools and make user experience a priority.

Customise for Candidate Differences

Expectations vary greatly based on demographics like generation, location, and more. Recruiters should tailor outreach and process to appeal to the needs of different candidate groups. Proper personalisation encourages diversity.

Actions to take:

? Research differences in expectations across locations, generations, industries, etc.

? Adapt outreach messaging and process to align with the preferences of each candidate demographic.

? Allow flexibility in approach while maintaining core values/brand.

The Key is Balance

Striking the right balance between automation and human touch is an ongoing challenge. But tools that handle lower-value tasks free up capacity for recruiters to provide the individualised attention candidates demand.

Actions to take:

? Use technology to handle high volume, repetitive tasks and free up capacity.

? Set expectations that tech and humans work together to provide an efficient yet personal experience.

? Continue to prioritise human interactions during critical high-touch points.

The Bottom Line

Today’s candidates have more choices and expect greater speed, care, and personalisation from recruiters throughout the hiring journey. Leveraging technology while maintaining human connection is key to meeting rising expectations.

Check out the full Cronofy 2023 Candidate Expectations Report for additional insights and data.