During my two decades in Waikato’s recruitment scene I’ve experienced many changes to the industry – changes with market demands, candidate expectations, recruitment trends and sourcing techniques. But there is one thing that hasn’t changed – how your recruitment process can reflect on your business, your brand and you.

Recruitment can be challenging and time-consuming, particularly if your company does not have an in-house recruitment team. Responding to all applications can easily be overlooked when you are trying to quickly fill a role. But we’ve all heard a horror story or two where someone has applied for a role and then they’re ‘ghosted’. Frustrated candidates can turn into bad reviews which can be quickly spread via word of mouth and social media.

If you keep candidates informed, you’ll keep them engaged. Good candidates have choices, sometimes several of them – so if they aren’t engaged, they’ll quickly lose interest and move on. It’s good practice to outline how long you will take to complete the recruitment process. And if there are any unforeseen delays, touch base to let them know – you’re at least able to put the candidate’s mind at ease if they’ve not heard from you.

We’re lucky enough that in this day-and-age it’s easier than ever to keep in touch. There’s no denying that with today’s digital tools communication can be easy and instant – and can provide an audit trail for future reference. However, it’s also critical not to hide behind the keyboard when a conversation would be better had face-to-face or over the phone. That personal touch can be a real brand-promoter for your business.

When you’ve determined the top few candidates you’d like to meet with for an interview, understand the candidate is also interviewing you (and your business). Elements such as having the flexibility to meet them at a café before work or in their lunch break, if they’re unable to take time off to come into the office, can speak volumes about your company’s brand and culture.

Recruitment is an opportunity to really showcase your brand. It’s important to make your candidates’ experiences positive, respectful and fair. Getting it wrong can not only increase the risk of losing top tier candidates for a role – but it can be harmful to your business image.

Here at Asset Recruitment we pride ourselves on keeping both our clients and our candidates informed every step of the way and making the experience positive and professional. If you’re looking for help with your recruitment, do get in touch.

This article first appeared in the Waikato Business News, August/September 2019.