Make it Frequent and Fast
We all know that candidates can be demanding! But the first step in meeting their demands is understanding them – in depth. That understanding includes how to best communicate with them.
A recent survey of 2,800 UK workers, by Reed UK, looked at communications in recruitment. It throws interesting light on what candidates expect.
The good news is that talent is very open to approaches. 86.7% of workers are interested in hearing about vacancies and talking to recruiters and more than half (57.3%) want to hear from recruiters every time there is a relevant opportunity.
Potential recruits have a very relaxed attitude towards when and how they want to be approached. They mostly prefer remote communication: 41.5% want contact by phone and 46.2% via email, whereas only 12.3% wanted face-to-face contact. Plus, the vast majority are happy for that first contact to take place at the weekend.
Always Respond – Even if it’s a No
At the application stage the same picture emerges. Potential candidates want frequent – and fast – communications. But what they want and what they get are often far apart. The Reed survey found that 91% expect confirmation of their application, but only 16% always receive it. 73% expect confirmation within 24 hours yet 12% hardly ever, or never, receive it. Even if they are unsuccessful, 80% of candidates expect to be informed. If they don’t hear within 5 days, 22% assume they’ve been unsuccessful, and if the silence stretches to 14 days, most assume the worst.
Keep them Posted
Candidates are impatient and expect the rest of the process to move quickly too. 83% expect to be at an interview within a fortnight and 71% expect to be offered a job within three weeks. The world of accountancy is even more demanding, with 90% expecting to be at an interview within a fortnight.
Staying in touch after the interview is equally important. According to Reed’s survey just over half (55.4%) expect contact after each interview stage with 23.2%. seeking such once a week. It might be surprising to some to discover that 17.2% of candidates actually expect contact every day.
As Reed’s survey confirms, throughout the recruitment process candidates expect frequent and fast communications. They expect the process to keep moving, and if it doesn’t they move on. Recruiters increasingly need to be able to meet these demands. By knowing what talent is out there;
knowing where, when and how to make contact; and of course knowing what to say – niche recruiters are naturally best suited to that task.
