Forty percent of jobseekers have turned down a job due to a bad interview experience. Recruitment Solutions explains companies need to realise they too are being interviewed.
Gone are the days when employers could enter an interview room with the attitude that they are in the seat of power. As the war for talent escalates with unemployment at its lowest rate in 33 years, the candidate is now firmly king, says Lorraine Christopher, Chandler Macleod’s Recruitment Solutions executive general manager.
This opinion is supported by recent research conducted by Recruitment Solutions among its database of office support employees, which found that 40 percent of those interviewed had turned down a job due to a bad interview experience. Even more damaging to a corporate brand, 81 percent of respondents said they would tell between one and ten people if they had a poor interview experience. “People have large networks of friends and aren’t shy of sharing a horror story. The flip side of course is to think about the benefits that a positive connection with jobseekers might bring. This is why smart employers view the job application and interview process as an opportunity to make a positive impression with candidates and they actively treat each applicant as a potential customer or referrer,” says Christopher. “When advertised, an office support job receives about 14 applications on average, with about four people interviewed for the role. Given this level of response it’s not hard to treat each jobseeker in a courteous and professional way. Yet, according to our research, a massive 84 percent of respondents have received no response to a job application at some stage during their careers and 69 percent received no response after an interview.
“Job seekers are clearly looking for timely responses and feedback, with 98 percent of respondents saying they would appreciate some kind of feedback. A simple email or quick phone call can go a long way.”
First impressions count
Proving that first impressions count, 78 percent of respondents indicated that the job application and interview process was very important in shaping their view of a company.
“Even from the job ad and initial response to job applicants, employers and recruiters can show professionalism in how they engage with the jobseeker. Even if that candidate doesn’t end up in the role, if they have a positive experience of the company then they won’t forget it,” says Christopher.
Candidates are becoming confident
The research results also prove that Australia is experiencing a new era in the job market, with respondents overwhelmingly believing that the interview process is now a two-way street. In fact, 87 percent of jobseekers questioned saw interviews as an opportunity to interview a prospective employer. Interestingly, 84 percent said they felt confident about their professional worth.
“Candidates are very sophisticated these days. They are often well-educated and highly informed about the job market and the type of company for which they wish to work. More often then not, they know their worth, having searched the various online job boards and spoken with their peers,” says Christopher. “Importantly, a two-way interview provides an efficient way for both prospective employer and employee to determine whether they have the right ‘fit’ from the beginning and help to ensure expectations are clearly articulated and agreed.”
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