Written By: Prevue HR Blog

The hiring process can be a lengthy and hectic endeavor, especially now with job platforms which allow the masses to apply by the hundreds and thousands. Yet, while it isn’t always possible to reply to every application, some hiring professionals seem to be losing their human touch in the modern age. It has now become the norm to completely disregard any and all applicants who aren’t a perfect fit without so much as a “thanks but no thanks”. And I’m here to tell you why this is likely harming your business.

Hiring used to be a quick process but, as time has gone by, it has become a task which often takes weeks (and, sometimes, even months). A primary reason for this seems to be that employers are spoilt for choice, receiving more applications than they can count thus taking as much time as possible to make a decision. But, ultimately, you get what you give. If you take forever to fill a position and leave applicants hanging, don’t be surprised when you end up pushing top talent out the door due to your own indecisiveness. Instead, you should focus on making sure your hiring process is a positive experience for as many candidates as possible; who knows how many talented individuals there may be waiting at your doorstep?

While we’ve touched upon needlessly burning bridges and negative candidate experiences during the hiring process before, today let’s talk about the positives of creating a candidate-friendly hiring experience.

Leave the Door Open

Clients and customers shouldn’t be the only people you want returning to your business. When hiring, you should treat your candidates with the same respect, courtesy, and professionalism you would anybody else contacting your business. It might not always be easy to reply to everyone when you have a swarm of applications to deal with, but even a basic response giving your thanks for their interest and encouraging them to apply again in the future can go a long way. That way, candidates will remember your company as one of the few who actually took the time to contact them regardless of the decision, instead of one of the many who couldn’t even respond to any of their 14 emails and 5 voicemails over the course of a month. And, in the future, they could return and end up being either a perfect fit for a new position or exactly what you were really looking for all along.

It’s In Your Best Interest

By deciding to not even acknowledge hundreds of applicants because they aren’t a strong fit for a position, you’re bound to leave a sour taste in their mouth. After all, applying for jobs is rarely a quick or easy endeavor, and a basic response isn’t too much to ask for – and the disdain you may create for your company by not doing this could also lose you valuable business. 200+ peeved, ignored applicants who leave the application process with a negative opinion of your organization are likely to never return to your company as a customer, let alone a job-seeker, and that’s 200+ lost potential clients right there.

Instead, going the extra mile to make candidates feel appreciated doesn’t only prevent alienating future applicants, but also future customers. People apply to companies they can relate to and would enjoy working for, so it’s only natural that they would be interested in whatever it is you’re providing, whether they get the job or not – so do what you can to make sure they’re still interested, no matter how their job application goes, because spreading the love and keeping them sweet could be financially beneficial for your company.

Do the Right Thing

Ultimately, one of the most obvious reasons we should all be respectful and courteous during the hiring process is a simple fact that we’ve all been there. Seeking employment can be draining for even the most hardened of individuals, and we’ve all suffered from the career-gap blues from time to time. By making sure you aren’t slacking when it comes to responding to applicants, you’ll be playing a part in keeping those blues at bay and making a positive difference in someone’s struggle to find or continue their career – even if it is only a small difference.

At the end of the day, why are we all here if not to be kind to one another? It’s not always about keeping your company’s rep intact or making sure you don’t lose business. Sometimes it’s just about being a good person, and I’m sure that’s something we can all agree on.

For the best help in making your hiring process as positive as possible, contact us today. And download our free whitepaper below on Perfecting the Perfect Hire to find hire and retain the best employees every time!

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