Dive Brief:

• Nearly half (45%) of more than 1,500 employees say they’ve rejected jobs after a negative interview experience, according to a survey released Sept. 21 by hiring software company Greenhouse.
• Almost 40% of respondents who identified as Black have faced discriminatory questions, compared to 31% of White respondents. Respondents identifying as female are almost 20% more likely to be faced with illegal interview questions compared to their male counterparts, according to the survey. Discriminatory questions employees say they’ve been asked include what their child arrangements were, if they were a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and where they were “really from.”
• An employer’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion matters: More than 68% of respondents said that a diverse interview panel is fundamental to better hiring experiences and outcomes, the survey found.

Dive Insight:

“Candidates find out the reality of what a company prioritizes and values early in the interviewing process,” Donald Knight, Greenhouse’s chief people officer, stated in a release. “If you’re claiming to be something you’re not, you’re catfishing prospective employees, and people will find out,” he warned.

There are solutions. Understanding that the hiring process is part of an overall brand experience is a starting point, according to 2021 findings by Modern Hire. That brand must come through in a strong, seamless experience, the findings noted. For this to happen, each step of the hiring process must be carefully crafted, Modern Hire recommended.

Read the full report here