How to Show Job Applicants That You Really Respect Their Time
Having a good reputation as an employer is critical for several reasons. For example, your business attracts a higher caliber of job applicants and earns employees’ trust and loyalty. One thing you need to do to build that good reputation is demonstrate respect for applicants and their time. Here’s how to do it.
1. Minimize Middleman Roles
You need to show applicants that they are not numbers to your company. Unfortunately, this can be the impression that applicants get when human resources leads the process, especially if screening is the name of the game. Instead, have the hiring managers or supervisors of the relevant department lead the process. These people are in a better position anyway to assess who will fit in well with the department, and the applicant feels valued by the direct contact. And what if the job candidate gets turned down for the job? Most are turned down, after all. Such “rejection,” when done by a departmental manager, feels more respectful than when done by someone vague in human resources.
2. Keep Applicants in the Loop
Being a job applicant is nerve wracking. Most of the time, they have no idea about timelines, how many applications were submitted, how many people are being interviewed and so on. Make transparency a key effort. Let applicants know how many people applied, and praise them for their skills and cultural fit that got them to the five people (or however many number) the company is interviewing. Let them know about each step of the process and what to expect during the stages. Keeping applicants in the loop also entails strategies such as being clear about salaries. Now is not the time to be coy.
3. Be Appreciative
At any stage of the process, be it applying, interviewing, extending offers or passing on job applicants, express your appreciation of their interest in your company and their time. For example, open emails with something like, “I appreciate you taking the time last week to come in for an interview.”