A recent study on candidate interviews revealed, “The Best Places to be Interviewed,” providing some great insight for employers on how creating a positive interview experience can attract better candidates. We’ve discussed many times in previous posts about the importance of creating a lasting, good impression. It starts with a simple concept: putting people first. Clearly the companies that are doing this well, stand to gain the most.
With fifty companies featured on the best list, at least forty of them scored higher than 80% from the candidates who interviewed with them. Hey, in today’s recruiting climate, scoring a B is pretty darn good, especially when many of those candidates didn’t receive an offer. Think about that for a moment. If a candidate can walk away with a good experience, despite not receiving an offer, it’s not just a good thing, it’s a great one. Why? Brand reputation.
So what are the qualities the candidates appreciated most in these interviews? Although no two interview processes are alike, we still saw similarities like staff-friendliness and organization. Of the top twenty-five that scored higher than a solid B, we grouped the most common key attributes that candidates mentioned in their interview.
* 35% Friendly: Overwhelmingly, the majority of those candidates surveyed mentioned that being friendly was a key indicator of a successful interview. Being friendly is something we stress to our clients and guess what: It’s one hundred percent free.
* 29% Organized: The next area of importance we noted from the survey were nearly thirty percent of the interviewers surveyed mentioned they appreciated when the process was organized and or smooth. Getting your process down to a science and keep refining it will not only give you better results, but it will provide a lasting impression on how your company does business.
* 26% Comfortable: Approximately twenty-six percent of the candidates found that being comfortable helped make their interview a success. Remember, when you make a candidate comfortable, you’re more likely to get candid responses during the interviews.
* 10% Other: The other category was a mixed bag of comments such as being interactive, amazing and positive.
The study also featured detailed feedback from interviewers such as “The atmosphere was very relaxed…” and “All friendly folks, upfront and honest, looking forward to hire the ‘right’ people.” For more information about the study visit here.
When was the last time you surveyed your candidates to get their perspective? Doing so could provide valuable information to improve your process and enhance your brand image. If your company is struggling with finding candidates, improving the interview process or enhancing your brand image, contact us for a free consult.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Ingrid Moore
Ingrid Moore is the Founder and CEO of Corporate Resources of Illinois, an employment & staffing agency with over 20+years’ experience located in Schaumburg, IL. Ingrid and her team assist employers with finding the right hire for their business. For more info, follow us on our LinkedIn Company Page, or follow us Corporate Resources of Illinois‘s Google+ page.
