Candidate experience

Candidate experience is the collection of interactions that candidates have with a company prior to, during, and after the interview process. From the first email or phone call to receiving an offer (or not), candidate experience is about how a company treats its potential hires.

Candidate experience in recruitment is important for all stages of the process. It's significant for both job seekers and hiring managers, as well as internal candidates and external ones. It matters whether you're filling junior-level positions or senior leadership roles because candidate experience can determine whether someone chooses to apply for your job opening in the first place — or even consider working at your company at all.

1. As a candidate, it's critical to know what you're getting into. A clear, easy-to-understand job description will help you determine if this is a position that aligns with your career goals and interests.
2. Describe the requirements of the role, but also discuss its benefits: compensation and benefits are important factors in deciding whether to apply for a job. A consistent process for applying and interviewing helps candidates feel comfortable throughout the process by giving them an idea of what they can expect at each step along the way (i.e., when they should expect feedback).
3. Regular updates on the status of your application are also very important — it lets them know they haven't been forgotten! Make sure these updates come from someone who has accurate information about their candidacy; if possible, make sure that person is involved in making actual hiring decisions, so there aren't any surprises later on down line (like being told «that was never my decision»).