In a perfect world, the hiring process would be as simple as seeing a need in your company, reading a few resumes and immediately offering the position to the candidate who seems most qualified. Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect world and the actual process is much longer and more tedious.

Because of this, candidates can lose interest based on many factors, and your company may be losing top talent because of easy-to-fix issues. Try the three solutions below to make sure you’re getting the best candidates for your open positions.

1. Figure Out Your Hiring Timeline

The easiest way to lose a prospective candidate is to take too long hiring them. Before, the multiple-step process was fine, but the market has changed into one driven by the candidate, meaning your applicants aren’t sitting by the phone waiting for your call. They’re receiving other offers while you try to get your team together to schedule another interview.

According to Monster, the best interviewing process shouldn’t last longer than two weeks. Meaning by the time you start scheduling, your team should be open and ready to meet with applicants and make a decision in that time. This way, you can tell your candidates when you will make the decision.

2. Make the Application Process Interesting

Before the applicants come in, you want to make sure they’re what you’re looking for. Instead of making it as simple as pressing ‘submit a resume and apply,’ try making the experience more interactive where they have the opportunity to show off some of their skills. More than simply giving you a better idea of what they can do, it will show which candidates are willing to take the time to think about their application instead of applying and immediately moving to the next job.

3. Keep in Touch

One of the greatest sins is when an organization tells a candidate they will be in touch either way and then never responds. You should be communicative during the entire process, even immediately after application. Send an email acknowledging you’ve received their information. Even if you aren’t ready to start scheduling interviews, you can let them know the first step has been received.

If an interview is granted, follow up on the status and let your candidates know if there’s been a delay and it will take longer or if the position has been filled. Regular updates will keep them engaged and let them know they haven’t been forgotten. This kind of attention can set your company apart in a job search and ultimately make you worth waiting for.

Need Some Help?

While these tips seem simple, sometimes the screening and follow-up can fall away. Let Staffing Resources help you stay connected and find the best talent. As an Atlanta-based staffing agency, we’re here to make the process simple for you while guaranteeing you’re going to get your next best employee. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.