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The candidate experience plays a crucial role in helping candidates decide whether they want to join a company or not, especially in times when candidates have multiple job opportunities due to factors like low unemployment rates. It can be affected by something as big as not respecting a candidate's time, or as small as minor communication gaps—read on to learn what factors play the biggest role in candidate experience.
Candidates are more social than ever, meaning that the experience one candidate may have can be magnified to plenty of other job seekers, therefore, a positive candidate experience is not only key to hiring high-quality employees but also impacts a company's reputation as an employer. It influences whether a candidate may consider applying for another role in the future and whether they'd recommend the company to other potential candidates.
In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the pivotal role that candidate experience plays across the three stages of the talent acquisition funnel: job application, job interview, and job offer. Furthermore, we'll explore how candidate experience impacts employer branding on a larger scale.
Leverage Withe's hiring event platform
Streamline your seasonal and high-volume hiring process and hit your hiring targets.
Key Candidate Experience Statistics to Know
- 60% of candidates report having received a poor candidate experience
- 70% of companies reported an improvement in the quality of hires after prioritizing candidate experience
- Candidates are 38% more likely to accept a job offer if they are satisfied with the application process
- 72% of candidates say the smoothness of an interview process would affect their final decision on whether or not to take the job
- 49% of candidates have declined a job offer due to poor experience
Overall Hiring Process
The hiring landscape presented substantial challenges for candidates. As highlighted by Career Plug, 48% of candidates have had at least one negative experience in the hiring process in 2022.
CareerArc also reports that 60% of candidates report having received a poor candidate experience.
The importance of these experiences extends beyond the individual candidates. According to CareerArc, 72% of candidates are likely to share their bad experiences online or with someone directly.
Recognizing the impact on talent acquisition and overall company reputation, companies are increasingly prioritizing candidate experience:
70% of companies reported an improvement in the quality of hires after prioritizing candidate experience (Glassdoor).
Furthermore, companies are incorporating candidate experience metrics into performance evaluations:
64% of companies tie recruiter performance to positive Candidate Experience figures (Talent Board 2023).
Withe helps recruiters improve the candidate experience with on-demand video interview software
Communication and Candidate Experience
Effective communication plays an important role in candidate satisfaction:
- 54% of candidates have abandoned a recruitment process due to poor communication from the recruiter/employer (Criteria)
- 70% of candidates believe a lack of communication is the biggest red flag in the hiring process (Greenhouse)
- 81% of job seekers say continuous status updates would greatly improve their overall experience (Career Builder)
Candidates are not only open to providing feedback but see it as a valuable interaction:
- 68% of candidates are willing to provide feedback if asked (Talentegy)
- Talent is 4x more likely to consider your company for a future opportunity if they receive constructive feedback (Linkedin)
Job Application
Starting the job application process can often feel like wandering through a confusing maze of uncertainty, with candidates hoping for clear communication and quick responses.
In 2022, this challenge intensified as 34% of candidates faced extended waiting times of one to two-plus months for the next steps after applying—a significant jump from only 23% of candidates in 2021, as uncovered by the Talent Board.
As specific expectations and frustrations come to the forefront, painting a vivid picture of the candidate experience, it’s evident that:
- 58% of candidates expect to hear back from companies in one week or less regarding their initial application (Greenhouse)
- 76% of job seekers state that not hearing back after submitting a job application trumps the frustration of not hearing back after a first date (iCIMS)
- 81% of candidates expect the hiring process to wrap up in two weeks (Yello)
- 63% of candidates are dissatisfied with the communication after applying (Talentegy)
- 55% of candidates indicated that they are rarely or never kept informed about their application status after completing an application (Talentegy)
- 85% of candidates doubt that a human being even reviewed their application when they don’t hear back from an employer (CareerArc)
- Candidates who are NOT informed of the status or decision of their application are 3.5x less likely to re-apply to that company that declined them (CareerArc)
That’s not even addressing application length and complexity:
- 60% of candidates quit in the middle of the online job application process because of the application length or complexity (SHRM).
- Candidates are 38% more likely to accept a job offer if they are satisfied with the application process (Glassdoor)
The Candidate Experience Report by Talentegy also reports:
- 69% of candidates are unlikely or very unlikely to reapply again after the negative candidate experience
- 56% of candidates encountered a technical issue during the application process
According to Linkedin,
- 71% of candidates do their own research before applying to a company
- 75% of candidates respond positively to job descriptions that use generic language, as opposed to more casual or formal tones
- 48% of candidates respond positively to receiving interview information ahead of time
- 52% of candidates who were given feedback were more likely to continue a relationship with the company
Candidates also want a sense of the place they’re applying. 86% of candidates check a company’s rating and reviews at Glassdoor before applying for a job (Glassdoor).
Job Interview
The importance of the candidate experience during the job interview stage cannot be overstated. A positive and seamless interaction not only reflects a company's values and professionalism but also plays a decisive role in attracting, retaining, and influencing top-tier talent in today's competitive job market.
In fact,
- 83% of talent say a negative interview experience can change their mind about a role or company they once liked, while 87% of talent say a positive interview experience can change their mind about a role or company they once doubted (Global Talent Trends Report)
- 65% of candidates say that a bad interview experience makes them lose interest in the job (Linkedin)
- One of the top three reasons candidates around the world withdraw from the process is “My time was disrespected during the interview process” (Talent Board)
Efficient interview scheduling stands out as a crucial element in enhancing the candidate experience and preventing candidates from dropping off the recruitment process. Candidates are becoming less patient with potential employers. In fact, 49% of candidates left the recruitment process when it took too long to schedule an interview in 2023, compared to 38% in 2022 (Cronofy).
This underscores the importance of streamlining the scheduling process to retain candidate engagement and interest throughout the recruitment journey. GoodTime reports that 50% of companies agree that efficient interview scheduling is key to creating a faster and simpler hiring experience for candidates.
Cronofy's Candidate Experience Report further emphasizes the importance of the interview process on candidates:
- 72% of candidates say the smoothness of an interview process would affect their final decision on whether or not to take the job
- 62% of candidates would prefer an automated system that manages the interview process efficiently rather than lengthy back-and-forth communication
- 40% of candidates expect it to take 2-6 days after applying for a job to schedule an interview - up from 30.5% in 2021 and 33% in 2022
Understanding and meeting candidate expectations is also a key aspect of fostering a positive candidate experience. According to CareerPlug, 41% of candidates expect to learn about the next steps in the hiring process during the initial interview.
In a related context, insights from the Candidate Experience Report 2023 by Greenhouse shed light on various challenges within the interview phase:
- 34% of candidates have been asked a discriminatory interview question
- 30% of candidates believe they have been rejected for a job because of their age
- 43% of candidates say that the most common reason for ghosting a potential employer/recruiter is poor interview experience
- 67% of candidates say employers have ghosted them after a job interview
| Questions | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Age | 34% |
| Race | 28% |
| Gender | 24% |
| Marital Status | 22% |
| Religion | 20% |
| Ability Status | 19% |
| National Origin | 19% |
| Parental Status | 18% |
| Weight | 14% |
| Sexuality | 13% |
| Pregnancy | 13% |
| Genetic Information | 12% |
Job Offer
A positive candidate experience during the job offer stage is critical for attracting top-tier talent and shaping an organization’s reputation.
According to CareerPlug’s latest Candidate Experience survey:
- 49% of candidates have declined a job offer due to poor experience
- 81% of candidates surveyed said a positive experience influenced their decision to accept an offer
In addition, 80% of candidates rate employer reviews as an important resource in their decision-making (Talentegy).
Employer Branding
Creating a positive candidate experience is crucial for your employer brand. It’s not just about hiring — it’s about showcasing candidates that you value them.
- 95% of candidates agree that the way a potential employer treats them as a candidate is a reflection of how they would treat them as an employee (iCIMS)
- 78% of candidates say that their overall candidate experience is an indicator of how a company values its employees (Career Builder)
Candidates these days are on the hunt everywhere — from Linkedin to Indeed and Glassdoor. And, once they find a job they’re interested in, they’ll look up your brand on Google and social media. In fact,
- 52% of candidates first seek out the company’s sites and social media to learn more about an employer (Linkedin)
- 82% of candidates consider employer brand and reputation before applying for a job — a 7% increase from 2018 (CareerArc)
- 94% of candidates are likely to apply to a job if a company actively manages its employer brand (Bernard Hodes Group)
- 9 out of 10 candidates would apply for a job when it’s from an employer brand that’s actively maintained (Workable)
Your employer brand can be key to setting a great first impression when a candidate is researching your company or one of your roles.
According to The Future of Recruiting Report 2023 by Linkedin, 60% of in-house recruiting professionals predict that they will invest more in employer branding.
Conclusion
Prioritizing a positive candidate experience not only aids in recruiting high-quality talent but also positions a company as an employer of choice. Neglecting this crucial aspect can lead to missed opportunities, hindering the ability to attract, engage, and retain top-tier professionals. The statistics emphasize a clear call to action: embrace the power of a positive candidate experience, as it serves not only as a gateway to exceptional hires but also as a cornerstone for enduring organizational success.
Withe helps recruiters improve the candidate experience with on-demand video interview software
Continue your exploration into the vital statistics of talent acquisition – we've got you covered:
- Top of the talent acquisition funnel: 30+ Job Application Statistics and 30+ Employer Brand Statistics
- Middle of the talent acquisition funnel: 50+ Job Interview Statistics
- Bottom of the talent acquisition funnel: 10+ Job Offer Statistics and 80+ Employee Onboarding Statistics
If you’re interested in delving deeper into articles on candidate experience:
