12 Ways Your Talent Acquisition Team Can Nail the Candidate Application Process (Part 3 of 9)

Acknowledging Your Candidates’ Applications continued:

Tip #3: Be specific about what candidates can expect during the hiring process.

Every company has its own way of facilitating the hiring process. It’s important candidates applying for roles with your company know exactly what they can expect. This ensures the process is fair and standardized for everyone. Informed candidates are better prepared to be successful if they are selected to move forward and are better positioned to quickly shift gears in their job search if they are not.

Explain at a high level what the initial review process will entail.

Provide your candidates with a concise roadmap of the preliminary steps in the process.

• Example #1: Over the next several business days, our recruiting team will review the application you submitted. The candidates most qualified for the role will be contacted regarding next steps in the interview process.

  
  

• Example #2: What happens now? We will review applications and analyze them thoroughly against a predetermined set of requirements and criteria. If the hiring team selects you to interview, we will reach out to you directly with next steps.

  
  

• Example #3: Your information will be carefully reviewed. If your experience and skills match the requirements of this position, we will contact you with information on the next stage in our hiring process.

  
  

• Example #4: Our recruiting team will carefully review your application and qualifications to ensure a strong alignment between you and our organization. If your profile aligns with our requirements, you will be invited to proceed to the next steps in our recruiting process. These include a series of aptitude and personality assessments. Please look for an email about these assessments, which will be sent from a no-reply address via our applicant tracking system.

Explain when applicants should expect to receive a response.

This relates to the concern discussed earlier of candidates being ghosted after submitting their online applications. Whenever possible, give your candidates a firm date or a reasonable estimate of when they can expect a response from you on the status of their application.

• Example #1: A member of our Talent Acquisition team will review your résumé within 10 business days and will be in touch if your qualifications and experience align to the role you applied for.

  
  

• Example #2: We will review your profile against the qualifications for this opportunity, which may take some time. We give each application the same careful consideration yours is receiving right now. Rest assured -- you’ll hear from us!

Further, inform your candidates if you anticipate your response may take longer than normal, such as when additional review time is needed based upon the volume of applications.

• Example #1: Given the high number of qualified candidates, our response time may be longer than anticipated. Thank you for your patience as we carefully review your profile.

  
  

• Example #2: We want to let you know that we have received your résumé, and it is being reviewed by our Talent Acquisition Team. Due to the high number of candidates who responded, it may take up to two weeks for the team to complete a review of your qualifications.

Be clear about whether candidates will receive a response if they are not selected to move forward.

Will you notify candidates who are not selected to advance in the hiring process? Or should they assume that if they don’t hear from you, they were not selected? Or will only successful candidates be notified? Whatever your protocol is to handle notifications, detailing the process in your acknowledgement email will eliminate a nerve-wracking guessing game for your candidates.

• Example #1: Due to the volume of applications for this position, we are only able to reach out to those candidates selected to move forward to the initial interview round.

  
  

• Example #2: Our team will review your application and should we find a match with our requirements, we'll reach out for an initial screen. If we don't see a match for this position, we will let you know. Please keep an eye on our careers page as we are growing and continuing to add openings.

  
  

• Example #3: We'll be sure to let you know whether there's a match between your experience and this opportunity. Due to the number of applications we receive, we're not able to provide updates. However, our hiring team reviews every application we receive. If you don't hear from us, please hold tight as everyone gets a response from us, whether it's to start a conversation or that we haven't found the right fit.

  
  

• Example #4: Our team thoroughly reviews all application materials we receive, and we will contact you if your skillset is a match for the position. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, we are only able to guarantee a direct response to those candidates we are inviting to interview and unable to respond to individual inquiries. We know that applying to jobs is difficult, and we do our best to alert every applicant as to their status in the process. However, be aware that you may not receive a response from us until after the application deadline has passed.

Check back next week for Tips 4 and 5!

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