Why your candidate experience matters more now
Kelly Stone
writer-for-hire ? candidate experience communication | employer branding | punchy EVPs and brand voice
Ain't C0V!D a punk? Sorry, I wanted to be bold and just say it.
For some out there, you started the year with stars in your eyes dreaming up big recruitment campaigns, manifesting the rockstar talent who'd join your organisation and do rockstar things.
And then, like, the C0V!Ds hit and froze some recruitment drives, cancelled others, and in the case of some grad campaigns, flipped the entire process on its head (virtual careers are "OK", but nothing beats connecting sweaty palms with awkwardly shy students whose beady eyes dart around your stall searching for freebies while they nod and 'ah' with feigned interest).
Truth is, this global pandemic has widely exposed some serious weaknesses in the way recruiters and organisations communicate with their talent during a recruitment process.
That's because *so many* people have been furloughed or lost their jobs and wound up in the unemployment line for the first time since graduation. And now hundreds of people are applying for the same role, desperately clutching at any opportunity to be paid more than minimum wage.
The increased volume in job seekers globally has exposed the weeping wound that is the poor candidate experience.
That's because for some job applicants, even before applying for your roles, they're coming from a position of fear and uncertainty. Unrelated to your opportunities. Just with life, generally.
No one has a crystal ball to predict what will happen. Not even government.
No one is telling us when things will be alright again and the world will tilt back on its axis and planes will return to the sky and drunk dancers will return to sticky, sweaty dance floors.
It's just... silence.
And then these job seekers apply for the one or two roles that are available in their field (nationally), clutching at the only hope they have left in their system, to again be smacked in the face with -
SILENCE.
It is needlessly heartbreaking.
And it can be easily fixed.
People are feeling burned and disgruntled before they see your job ad and hit apply. While your silence might have been 'expected' pre-C0V!D and just part and parcel with the job hunting experience, these days, now, in the middle of this pandemic, it's the straw breaking the dehydrated camel's back.
I say with absolute sincerity, good on anyone for tackling this.
Keep at it.
Because the benefits to come from providing candidates with a positive, respectful and engaging experience will help tilt their world back on its axis even if the Earth itself isn't ready ??
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This gem of a post was originally written as an email in my Ultimate Guide to Candidate Connection opt-in welcome sequence. If your heart went fuzzy reading this and now you're desperate to tackle candidate communication in your business, the bestest news of your day is that I've just released another written-for-you 7-part candidate email nurture campaign to help you dazzle your talent during recruitment.
Talent Partner, Employee Services, Brisbane City Council/Yoga Teacher
4 年Yes, in over 25 years recruiting I have not before heard the voice of fear and uncertainty like now. Make our time not too precious to address that!
Seasoned (but not jaded) HR leader with a passion for establishing inclusive workplaces. I strive to make inclusion meaningful and matter to everyone.
4 年Babahaha the line about the grads searching for merch while nodding... so damn true ?? love ALL of this! and radio silence for even experienced and arguably resilient job seekers totally sucks! I’ve been ghosted more than I’ve had polite replies and it’s so demoralising.