Did you know that over 57% of Australians are likely to lose interest in their application within 10 days of no response from companies?
This is a significant number, especially when we consider the ever-growing labour market in Australia. Employers are not only tasked with attracting new talent to fill vacant positions; they are also agents of change, frontliners to the evolving needs of both the business and their candidates.
So, how do employers stay responsive to the needs of everyone involved in the hiring process?
Employers should be mindful of application retention, as it affects the company’s long-term hiring strategy. The experience a candidate receives during the interview, screening, and onboarding process can make or break a hire. Let’s detail how employers can help secure top talent by optimizing the hiring process — that is, by being more considerate of candidates’ time.
What exactly is the candidate experience?
There are many discussions and articles about creating the best possible employee experience, but far fewer address the journey of candidates who are still in the hiring process. Australian organisations should consider how to deliver the same high standards and care to candidates as they do to their own employees.
At First Advantage, we pride ourselves on putting candidates front and centre in the screening process, wherever they are in the world. We elevate the hiring journey by ensuring that the key elements of candidate experience are as seamless and responsive as possible.
Common steps in the hiring process typically include:
- job discovery
- application
- communication
- interviews
- assessments
- background screening
- support
- feedback
These are essential for employers to execute effectively, as it may not only increase the number of applications but also has the power to boost a company’s brand reputation by delivering a great experience. Of course, the opposite is also true; a poor experience may damage a brand and lead talent to pull out and look for roles elsewhere.
We’ve created a checklist to help enterprises seeking to hire top talent boost their candidate screening journeys.
Deliver prompt support at scale
Employers may think that questions about applications are a minor detail, but they can be a deal-breaker for some applicants. Unanswered questions can lead to candidate drop-offs. How do we ensure real-time responsiveness in an environment where recruiters are juggling a high volume of applications, each at different stages of the process?
With new candidates entering the pipeline daily and others moving forward or dropping off, it’s easy for communication gaps to appear. To avoid this, employers need scalable support tools that can keep up with the dynamic nature of recruitment.
First Advantage offers both candidates and recruiters instant access to live agents through “Click. Chat. Call”:
- Click is a dedicated button leading to a portal dashboard.
- Chat is a chatbot that interacts with candidates to understand their needs and then guides them to the right support, whether that’s connecting them to a live agent or directing them to helpful information.
- Call lets your candidates talk to an agent via voice call.
Using “Click. Chat. Call,” candidates receive real-time updates on their background check status, submitted consent forms, and any outstanding actions they need to complete, such as uploading documents or verifying information. During the onboarding phase, candidates are also guided through key steps like completing digital forms, reviewing compliance documents, and accessing welcome materials or training links.
For employers, the platform reduces reliance on ticket-based support systems by enabling faster resolution through direct, live interactions, streamlining the hiring process for both candidates and hiring teams.
Strategically Automate Tasks
Repetitive tasks can prolong the application process. Manual emails, form filings, and document chasing are time-killers, especially when employers are dealing with hundreds to thousands of applications on a day-to-day basis.
First Advantage offers an array of solutions for companies wanting to automate repetitive tasks from digital forms to ATS automation. This kind of technology can significantly improve the candidate experience, enabling them to focus on the important things, like preparing for Day One in the job.
Communicate with your candidates throughout the hiring process
Work with your hiring team to map out a series of milestones such as application review, interview scheduling, and background check completion to ensure a smooth and consistent candidate experience. With every milestone, don’t forget to update your candidates on the progress of their application. Automation can be a big help in ensuring that milestones are met, while also supporting status updates and alerts.
Remember the 3 Rs
The three Rs refer to Role, Region, and Risk level. Take note, as each of these can impact your background screening checks!
Roles refer to the positions your company is offering, and each applicant comes with their own history about the position they’re applying for. An applicant’s history, including possible criminal records, employment, education, financial integrity, and credential verification, is then matched with the roles to see if there’s a good fit.
Region refers to your location. Geography can heavily influence the hiring process, as rules and regulations may vary from one place to another. For example, in Australia, mandates such as VEVO checks are important.
Risk level examples include roles working with vulnerable groups or having access to sensitive data.
First Advantage is able to assist with integrating the three Rs — Role, Region, and Risk into every background check process to help ensure compliance and informed hiring decisions.
Globalise
With so many people working from home, and many businesses having globalised infrastructure in place, Australian employers are increasingly hiring top talent from around the world, across the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Candidates coming from different regions may need language support or help navigating local hiring processes.
To create an inclusive process, First Advantage offers region-specific, localised configurations via our online background screening experience for non-native users.
Make help easy to find
Don’t let your candidates run into issues like missing documents, confusing instructions, or stalled background checks, as this can delay support and frustrate candidates.
“Click. Chat. Call.” is one of the avenues where information can be found easily. It’s user-friendly and decreases the chance of information being buried deep in emails or third-party links. Through this automation, candidates can expect instant and intuitive support, especially in background checks.
Transparency builds trust
Always remember that background checks are never just a minor issue for your candidates. Be prepared for audit reviews, provide consistent communication, and try to have procedures in place to make your candidates feel supported. Transparency elevates an enterprise’s hiring process.
Looking to elevate your enterprise hiring? Start with smart screening. Contact our experts to learn more.
