Reflections on the 2023 Global Candidate Experience Report

Hi Recruiters,

"Fifty years ago, candidates knew they had to wait.

They expected bias.

They knew the numbers were not in their favor.

They almost never heard back."

Anyone else get goosebumps? Those first four sentences come from Gerry Crispin's (my beloved friend and mentor) insightful opening remarks in the 2023 Global Candidate Experience (CandE) Benchmark Report, recently published by ERE. If you're interested in a breakdown of the latest feedback on hiring processes from over 150 employers and 240,000 candidates, you should check it out.

Driving Progress

When I read Gerry's words, I think of how way too many modern-day hiring experiences offer no reason for candidates to expect anything different.

I still hear of candidates waiting months (in some cases almost a year) before hearing back; of feeling discriminated against (whether by an individual or a system); or of feeling like they have no shot among thousands of other applicants.

The thing is — as Gerry and the research point out — candidates do have different expectations today. And unlike fifty years ago, the potential for a rejected, disgruntled job seeker to impact your bottom line is much greater.

Yet I believe the pressure from talent is driving a lot of progress. And while negative experiences can result in candidates trashing recruiters or employers online, positive experiences produce the inverse.

Do a quick search on LinkedIn for "positive hiring experiences," and you'll find plenty of evidence:

In one post, hiring manager Olga Sazonova, Ph.D. noted some recent feedback she received about the interview experience from a former hire: how she "really made [the candidate] feel respected and competent from the get-go and how unique it was among interviews with other companies."

Olga then goes on to talk about how she has always pushed for improved interview practices on every team she's been a part of, believing the right interview process must be carefully and deliberately designed. In her words, "It has to balance the needs of the organization with the needs of the applicant."

I give that approach a 10 out of 10.

In another post, recruiting manager Tony Peraza, MBA shared how a positive interview process played a big role in a new employee's decision to accept an offer and celebrated how his team goes above and beyond to do "more than simply interviewing" — such as enjoying responding to follow up questions from candidates and reaching out proactively with status updates.

We love to see it.

I really enjoyed reading a post from cloud and IT services pro William (Bill) Peldzus, sharing with his followers about how wonderful it felt to do a video interview with a company that made him feel like his time was respected and that he got a "fair and honest chance." He said, "Regardless of what happens going forward, I will hold this company in esteem."

This really hits the nail on the head.

The proof is easy to find. Treat people well and they'll return the good vibes.

Positive Signals

Of course, findings from the ERE report also illuminate a lot of positive signals. A few themes I noticed:

Feedback loops are becoming more popular — 67% of employers reported asking for feedback after a candidate is hired, indicating a growing trend toward engaging candidates in the feedback process.
Major industries are leading the way — 68% of employer participants came from healthcare, finance, insurance, technology, manufacturing and hospitality sectors.
Employers recognize the need for improvement — 88% of employers described their candidate experience as improving or competing, with only 11% considering it leading, indicating room for improvement.
Candidate experience greatly impacts employer brand and bottom line — People talk. Good or bad, most people are willing to share their experiences with inner circles, and many are willing to share online. Interestingly enough, the positive experiences are most likely to be shared. Need I say more?

Consequences

In my view, we've come a long way. There's a lot to be improved, but the recruiters and teams out there listening to candidates and adapting are reaping the rewards and will continue to do so.

If you need another reason to get your hiring practice up to snuff with modern candidate expectations, take it from Gerry's closing words from the report on where we are today:

"Fewer quality candidates are willing to wait.

They expect you to manage your bias.

They know the numbers are moving in their favor to learn how to be more competitive.

If they never hear back, there will be consequences."

What else is happening in hiring?

Kunwar's Korner

I could share some of our recent hireEZ content, but this is more important. Our beloved teammate Daniel Harten just introduced a baby girl into his family ❤️

He wrote an absolutely beautiful post detailing the power of community (and look how cute Myla is!!) If you have a moment, definitely show him some love and congratulations.

Until next time!

-Recruiters