



Recruiting News Network
Recruiting
News
OperationsThe Recruiting Worx PodcastMoney + InvestmentsCareer AdviceWorld
Tech
DEI
People
People on the Move
The Leaders
The Makers
People
People on the Move
The Leaders
The Makers
Brand +
Marketing
Events
Labor +
Economics
SUBSCRIBE





Diversity + Equity + Inclusion

Candidate experience evolves to engender more emotional engagement

November 7, 2022

Diversity + Equity + Inclusion

Candidate experience evolves to engender more emotional engagement

November 7, 2022

Photo by Tim van der Kuip on Unsplash

At a time of ongoing skills and talent shortages across most areas of the economy, the idea of wooing prospective employees with a compelling candidate experience is garnering increased attention.

Whereas it used to be considered a “nice-to-have” that was explored after other elements of the recruitment process had been dealt with, “intense competition has led to a renewed focus” here over the past year or so, says Jamie Kohn, a research director at Gartner’s HR practice.

This is not least because “when people are receiving multiple job offers, they don’t have the patience for long, drawn-out application processes, which is leading to a lot of effort in terms of creating an effortless experience”, she adds.

Also, it is starting to dawn on more hiring managers and business leaders that recruitment is a two-way process, which involves understanding what job applicants need, what engages them and what information they require to help them make the right decision.

As to what an effortless candidate experience looks like in practice, Kohn believes it consists of three key elements. The first is based around process-based activities, such as making jobs easy to apply for and providing applicants with frequent updates and insights into different stages of the hiring process. A key aim here is to streamline such processes to speed them up.

The second element is about understanding the candidate journey and what information and support are required during different moments that matter. These include the application process, interviews and offer stages.

Both of these elements are what Kohn describes as the “low-hanging fruit” of candidate experience and where the majority of employers are currently focusing – although “they don’t always do super well at it”, she adds.

A work in progress

The third area is “still a work in progress”, however, and is where organisations still tend to struggle most. It entails “engaging candidates on a more emotional level to build connection with the organisation and see if it feels like the right fit”, says Kohn.

It is this connection, based on whether applicants can identify with the company’s values and are likely to find the work they will do meaningful, that differentiates one employer from another.

But to build it involves viewing the candidate experience as part of the organisation’s wider employer branding activities. It also means understanding that everything that happens during the hiring process affects the company’s brand reputation.

Kohn explains: “So, for example, if you’re trying to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in your branding, candidates should feel that and see those values throughout the experience. Everything has to be consistent and make a strong connection to who you are, so it’s about rethinking how you provide a view into the organisation.”

One way of doing this is to connect job applicants with existing employees and managers early in the hiring process to provide them with a “voice of experience” that is more likely to be trusted than that of recruiters. Another is to be upfront and transparent about issues ranging from pay to flexible working.

Read the full report here

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, employment is high and companies need to create a compelling candidate experience when competition is str

What we're reading

‘We’re all fighting the giant’: Gig workers around the world are finally organizing

by
Peter Guest
-
rest of world

Gig workers are connecting across borders to challenge platforms’ power and policies

Got Zoom fatigue? Out-of-sync brainwaves could be another reason videoconferencing is such a drag

by
Dr. Julie Boland
-
The Conversation

I was curious about why conversation felt more laborious and awkward over Zoom and other video-conferencing software.

How to Purchase an Applicant Tracking System

by
Dave Zielinski
-
SHRM

Experts say the first step in seeking a new ATS should be to evaluate your existing recruiting processes.

View All Articles

Events

Hire Virtue's Hiring Blitz & Job Fair

Houston, TX
-
to
August 6, 2025
View All Events
Related Articles

A Strategy for the Ages: Why Companies Need to Embrace Older Workers

Becki Murphy

June 11, 2025

Brands urged to join forces to halt ‘alarming regression on DEI’

May 29, 2025

© 2024 recruiting news network.
all rights reserved.



Categories
Technology
Money
People
TA Ops
Events
Editorial
World
Career Advice
Resources
Diversity & Inclusion
TA Tech Marketplace
Information
AboutContactMedia KitPrivacy Policy
Subscribe to newsletter
