Almost half of jobseekers say they’ll drop out of hiring process: Survey
Nearly two in five (39 per cent) senior managers say their company is taking more time to hire in the current environment ― despite having access to a deeper talent pool, according to a survey by Robert Half.
And to keep applicants engaged through the stretched period, employers are scheduling multiple rounds of interviews, conducting skills testing and keeping applicants busy with online training.
Overall, this can be bad for the company’s hopes of hiring, says David King, Canadian senior district president of Robert Half.
“Companies with long and arduous hiring practices open themselves up to negative consequences, including online complaints that can damage their credibility,” he says. “By creating a positive recruitment experience, organizations can avoid losing skilled candidates while strengthening their reputation as an employer of choice.”
Nearly nine in 10 (89 per cent) of employers in the U.S. are open to negotiating salary once a job offer has been made, according to a separate survey.
Backlash from candidates
Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of professionals say they lose interest in a job if they don’t hear back from the employer within 10 business days after the initial interview. That number jumps to 87 per cent if there is no status update within three weeks.
Fifteen per cent also lose interest if they don’t hear from the employer within a week, find two surveys conducted between Nov. 19, 2020, to Jan. 25, 2021 of more than 450 senior managers and 500 workers.
Workers also revealed what they would do if they felt they were being “breadcrumbed” by hiring managers:
- Ghost the employer and drop out of the process (48 per cent).
- Backlist the company and refuse to consider them for future opportunities (44 per cent).
- Leave a negative comment anonymously on review sites (24 per cent).
- Vent about the experience using personal social media accounts (16 per cent).
“When employers unnecessarily draw out the hiring process, it can be extremely frustrating for jobseekers and some may drop out to pursue other opportunities,” says King. “Hiring managers need to move quickly and be transparent and responsive to candidates — from their first point of contact until a timely hiring decision is made — to secure the best talent.”
A hiring process that is too drawn out contributes to a negative company image, according to First Option Workforce Solutions.
“A slow hiring process can give a company a reputation for poor workplace culture. It can seem like a hiring manager is not very motivated to attract top talent and fill job postings. In the age of social media, a few reviews or critical comments can drive down future applications and drive customers away.”
A moderate hiring pace is expected over the first three months of 2021, according to a Manpower survey released in December.
