Lengthy processes, poor communication, and disengaged candidates can paint your organisation in a bad light, costing you both recruits and business. But, by implementing some key strategies into your recruitment process, you can foster a positive and lasting candidate experience.
In this blog, we will explore four top strategies to help you build and maintain strong relationships with potential trainees throughout the recruitment cycle.
Sharing company culture
Candidates want to know more than just the job role – they want to understand your company culture, values, and mission. They want to know the kind of company they might be working for, and while it’s easy to tell them, its far more impactful to show them.
Offer potential trainees insight into your workplace by inviting them to virtual tours, company events or Q&A sessions with current employees. This interactive approach fosters an emotional connection with your organisation, helping candidates feel at ease – which is especially important for those entering their first job.
However, remember to be mindful of authenticity. Over-promoting your culture or initiatives can feel forced. Ensure that all communications about diversity and inclusion, sustainability and benefits align with what is shared internally. If there are areas for improvement, be transparent about your progress.
Offering a learning resource
Equipping candidates with industry insights can enhance their understanding and position your organisation as a trusted leader. Providing resources not only prepares them for interviews but also demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional development.
Consider offering:
- Access to industry insights and reports
- Webinars, podcasts and online courses
- Open workshops on essential skills (both technical and soft skills)
While these resources should be readily available, avoid making them feel like a requirement - you don’t want them to feel bogged down with extra work during this process, especially if they are still studying or undergoing exams. The goal is to engage, not overwhelm.
Building a community
Candidates value honesty and transparency, and one of the best ways to foster this is by creating a candidate community. This can be as simple as a newsletter with candidate contributions or as interactive as a forum where applicants can connect via LinkedIn - opening a community allows candidates to share their experiences, ask advice, and connect with peers.
Encouraging networking among candidates also demonstrates confidence in your recruitment process.
Additionally, inviting senior leaders and peers within the advertised role to participate allows your candidates to get a real sense of your team dynamics and workplace culture.
Acknowledge milestones
Recruitment is a journey, and every step forward deserves recognition. Acknowledging and celebrating key achievements and milestones boosts engagement and reinforces a positive experience.
Small and simple gestures like personalised emails can go a long way in making candidates feel valued.
Key milestones to celebrate could include:
- Submitting an application
- Advancing to the interview stage
- Receiving interview feedback
- Being offered a position
It’s easy to focus on the resources your organisation invests into hiring, but remember candidates put a significant amount of time and effort into the recruitment process as well. Recognising their commitment and effort can set you apart from competing employers.
A plan of action
Maintaining warmth and engagement during the recruitment process benefits both candidates and your organisation. Research carried out by Resource Solutions found that:
- 94% of candidates say the recruitment experience impacts their decision to accept or reject an offer.
- 58% say that a positive recruitment experience makes them more likely to accept a role.
By implementing these strategies, you can enhance candidate experiences, strengthen your employer brand, and improve hiring outcomes.
Start recruiting with ICAEW Training Vacancies
If you’re already authorised to train with ICAEW, you can start attracting and recruiting top talent with a free-to-use ICAEW Training Vacancies account. Take a look at this helpful step-by-step guide to find out more.
If you are not yet an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer, start the quick and easy process with these three steps, allowing you to train ACA students and utilise the ICAEW Training Vacancies platform to recruit your first trainee.
Explore how to further nurture relationships throughout the recruitment process with our other blogs in this series: