Positive Candidate Experiences: No Tricks and All Treats

There’s a little too much scary out there today. Dark-fiction scary. Big-picture scary. Every day down the street and around the world, it’s scary. Even the workplace isn’t spared. Despite low unemployment and strong economies, like here in the U.S., job insecurity and terrible candidate experiences still seem to be rising from graveyards like zombies.

Let’s shed some light on those fragile yet hopeful flowers between those graves (Yikes! Even though that image is gruesome). Some positive things are happening in the candidate experience. Our annual CandE Benchmark Research has been measuring candidate experience around the world for 13 years, and each year, we recognize the highest-rated companies by the job candidates themselves in our research and give them awards. The CandE Winners this year are listed here.

Each year, we’re asked what the highest-rated CandE companies do to improve their recruiting, hiring, and candidate experience. We’re working on our latest 2024 CandE Benchmark research reports, packed with even more case studies and new and old proven practices.

For this article, I thought I’d share the top 10 positive themes from the candidates themselves, anonymized and summarized from multiple 2024 CandE Winners of all sizes (mostly midsize to enterprise) and industries with some of the highest ratings. The top 10 positive themes include:

Welcoming and Professional Atmosphere: Candidates consistently highlighted the friendliness, warmth, and professionalism of recruiters and staff, noting that these qualities made them feel respected and comfortable.
Clear Communication and Transparency: Many candidates appreciated clear, timely communication, which included details about the hiring process, role expectations, and next steps, fostering a sense of transparency.
Efficient and Well-Organized Process: The recruitment process’s streamlined, organized approach was praised, with candidates describing it as straightforward and easy to navigate.
Supportive and Helpful Recruiters: Recruiters were often mentioned for their guidance, responsiveness, and helpfulness, providing a supportive experience for candidates.
Positive Company Reputation: Candidates admired the company’s reputation, noting its strong culture, employee focus, and positive values, which contributed to their enthusiasm for joining.
Detailed and Informative Interviews: Recruiters provided thorough information on job roles, benefits, and company culture, ensuring candidates were well-prepared and informed.
Inclusive and Diverse Environment: Candidates noted the company’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, feeling valued as individuals regardless of background.
Positive Interview Experience: Many enjoyed the interview experience, finding it respectful and engaging, with fair and probing questions that allowed for genuine dialogue.
Excitement for Growth and Opportunities: Candidates expressed enthusiasm about the opportunities for career development and the chance to learn and grow within the company.
Professional and Courteous Interactions: The overall professional demeanor and courtesy from the recruitment team created a positive impression, making candidates feel valued and respected.

No tricks here, just treats—thanks to the recruiting teams and hiring managers who make these positive experiences happen. Maybe some of you are thinking, “Hey, we do those things, too!” To that, I reply, “Great, and please keep doing those things, too!” These efforts will not only ensure a positive candidate experience but also impact the business for the better with increased brand advocacy, referrals, and even more revenue for consumer-based businesses.

This year, we’re giving away three new CandE Awards focused on the most innovative candidate experience improvements. We’ll announce them at the upcoming ERE Recruiting Conference, November 12-14, in Anaheim, CA. You can still join us in person or virtually!

Positive Candidate Experiences: No Tricks and All Treats

The candidate experience shouldn't be a scary! Start treating them better with clear communication, inclusivity, and professionalism. Learn how other companies are getting the coveted CandE Awards!