It's not just applicants who need to put their best foot forward at an interview. In this Money Matters report, Time Warner Cable News’ Tara Lynn Wagner tells you why employers need to make a good impression as well.
Applying for a job can be stressful, time consuming and often frustrating.
"The candidate experience is horrible,” says Dan Schawbel, Partner & Research Director at Future Workplace. “60 percent of job seekers have had a bad candidate experience."
For one thing, Schawbel says candidates devote a lot of time to each application only to often be met by total silence.
"Companies are just not responding to these job seekers so they are left in the dark and job seekers spend hours - 3 to 4 hours - on each application," Schawbel says.
They also spend a lot of time interviewing with often no follow up if they aren't hired.
"I have one friends, she spent months applying for a job at a big company with several interviews, about eight rounds, and then she never even heard back if she got the job or not, so of course she's going to tell her friends not to apply for that company to have the same experience,” Schawbel says.
A recent study by Future Workplace and CareerArc found 70 percent of those who had a negative experience shared their story online or on social media where it becomes part of an employer's permanent record.
"That can really damage the brand from a consumer and a workplace standpoint," Schawbel says.
What's more, he says job seekers have long memories.
"Because you gave them a bad experience, based on our research, they'll never apply for a job at your company again and so you lose out on that talent,” Schawbel says.
The good news, he says, is many companies are now investing money to improve the candidate experience. His advice: look beyond the resume and view the candidates as people. Also, use automation not just to screen applicants but communicate with them as well.
"Part of the automation, now and in the future, should be them automatically notifying through email of where the application stands,” Schawbel says. “It's very simple, but it can be very effective."