The job market is always changing, and with low unemployment, it's a job seekers market. Employers and hiring managers need to cater to job seekers, if they want to hire and retain top talent.
The 2018 State of Recruitment and Onboarding Report revealed a shift of power from employers to candidates. Along with low unemployment, the skills gap is also making it difficult to find skilled employees.
"Nearly one-half of employers said it's taking them longer to fill jobs today than in any other period in the post-industrial era – which not only costs money, but has an impact on productivity and speed to market," said Irina Novoselsky, CEO of CareerBuilder.
However, recruiters can and should change the hiring process to cater to job seekers. Here's what candidates expect from hiring mangers and how recruiters can create a successful onboarding experience that meets the candidate's expectations. [Interested in finding the right recruiting software for your small business? Check out our best picks.]
Fast application process.
Job seekers want a fast application process. According to the survey, one-in-five employees are only willing to spend less than 10 minutes on an application or two to three pages on a mobile device. Only 30 percent of employees would spend more than 20 minutes on an application.
"A time limit between 10 and 15 minutes was the second highest choice indicating that employees prefer a succinct application that can be completed within a 20-minute timeframe," wrote the CareerBuilder report authors.
Open communication
Job applications expect open communication throughout the entire process including before they even apply. Thirty-six percent of employees expect to speak with recruiters before applying, and 82 percent of employees want a clear timeline for the entire hiring process.
The top frustration of job seekers (48 percent) is when an employer leaves them in the dark about where they stand as a candidate, according to the survey.
Job seekers will discount a company if they don't know where they stand. Fifty-five percent of employees are willing to wait less than two weeks to hear back from an employer before they give up on the position.
Continue the process.
The hiring process isn't over after you've given an offer. According to the survey, 51 percent of employees are still looking for other jobs after they've received an offer and are going through the background check process.
A candidate may walk away after an offer if the background check takes too long. If a background check takes more than 10 days, the candidate is more likely to move on.
"At most, employees will wait two weeks before moving on," according to the report's authors.
Make a good impression with onboarding.
The onboarding process begins with the offer and continues long after the first day. Onboarding is crucial to a new hire's decision to stay with a company. Sixty-eight percent of employees believe their experience during the onboarding and hiring process shows how a company treats its employees.
Eighty-six percent of employers have had a candidate walk away from a company after they've accepted the offer. A great onboarding process typically includes introductions to leadership and senior managers of key departments, introductions to colleagues, understanding workflows, their communication with HR and how an employee can contribute to company growth and success, according to the CareerBuilder survey.
The onboarding process typically also includes basics such as benefits, office culture and day-to-day operations.
The survey was conducted online and included input from 1,138 hiring manager and 1,114 employees. CareerBuilder and SilkRoad commissioned the survey that was conducted by The Harris Poll.