The HR and recruiting scene is currently being flooded with advice on 'how to create the best candidate experience'. The way your company conducts the recruiting process is especially important because it leaves a lasting impression on the candidate.

The candidate experience is a significant aspect of building a strong employer brand, something which is vital for companies if they want to attract the best talent. Too often are the dissatisfactions of job seekers’ heard, concerning their interaction with companies during the job search, but just how bad is it?

Here are the results of a recent candidate experience survey.

Global Satisfaction Rates

A recent study by Kelly Services found that globally, 73% people applied for a new job in the past year (77% in the EMEA region, 67% in APAC). The country with the highest satisfaction was Russia, at 68%, followed by Thailand at 59% and Poland and UK at 56%. Not only was Malaysia the least active regarding the job search in the APAC region (57% having applied for a new job), they were also the most dissatisfied, along with Australia, in their region, with only 39% of their respondents satisfied.

The country with the lowest satisfaction was Italy, with 23%.

What makes a candidate satisfied?

Out of the respondents that were satisfied with the job application process, the reasons for this were due to:

• ease of submitting their application electronically (70% for EMEA, 69% APAC),
• a clear job description and requirements in the job advert (70% EMEA, 69% APAC)
• regular communication and updates on the status of their application (46% EMEA, 56% APAC)
• communication with companies after an interview (32% EMEA and 47% APAC)

Candidate feel a lack of communication

Dissatisfaction in the process was mainly due to candidates feeling a lack of communication with companies regarding the status of their application (70% EMEA, 68% APAC).

The response time candidates expect from a company after applying for a position is 3 to 5 days (48% EMEA, 52% APAC). 36% EMEA respondents and 27% APAC believe up to 2 weeks is a reasonable time to hear back from a company, whereas 12% EMEA and 17% APAC expect a response within 1 to 2 days.

On-boarding is a crucial step in the recruitment process, as candidates are most likely to decide in the first 90 days on the job, whether they’ll stay with or leave their new position. 60% of respondents in APEC stated their new company had a planned approach to their on-boarding, compared to just 48% in the EMEA region (global response: 55%).

Countries with the strongest on-boarding were:

• China: 78%
• Thailand: 76%
• Russia: 76%

France faired the lowest, with around 35%.

Overall, candidates responded to a positive experience after their first 90 days, with 79% stating that they were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' in the EMEA region, and 82% in APAC.

Inform your candidates about their application status!

These results show us that, while there is still a lot which can be improved regarding recruitment processes, companies should make it their priority to keep candidates updated and informed on the status of their application. Doing this will raise the satisfaction rate of applicants, which in turn will improve the job seeker's experience and opinion of a company, leading to a stronger employer brand.

Source: Kelly Global Workforce Index 2014