Improve candidate experience to win the best

Candidate experience – tl;dr

• It is critical that organizations make a terrific impression from the initial interaction every applicant has with them. Indeed, in the U.S., it is estimated that companies spend up to $7.6M in additional wages making up for poor reputations. This translates into costs of 10% more per hire. Being the first point of contact in the candidate experience, every job posting must give a clearly defined description within an easy-to-navigate platform. The entire process, start to the finish, must be thorough but efficient.

• Interview nervousness is an infamous part of every candidate’s experience. In fact, a whopping 93% of Americans have had anxiety from a job interview. 41% say the thought of simply not being able to respond to a question worried them most. This perfectly natural phenomena can be minimized by the provision of private interview spaces like Hushoffice booths. By connecting in an ideal meeting environment, you ensure no outstanding candidate’s great attributes get eclipsed by nervousness to do with distraction or self-consciousness.

• 52% of job seekers have turned down offers due to bad experiences in the hiring process. This statistic highlights brilliantly the importance in refining every step of the candidate’s journey. Technology should always be used with a human touch. Feedback at every step is crucial. Minor gestures like quick, personable follow-ups often make the world of a difference. And physical spaces matter. Consider that, for a sizable share of that 52% cohort, a bad work environment partly explained their “no.” This means the office’s design must be modern and functional, starting with the space where the main magic happens: the interview room. For seamless interviews, consider a booth like hushFree.M for 4 people.

The candidate experience begins the moment a prospect interacts with your company for the first time. Typically, this takes place online, of course. But a respectful and engaging process through and through from this first virtual touch builds a perception of your company as a desirable place to be. As with all impressions, a quality one from the start sets the right tone, and an enduring one. Indeed, a thought-out candidate journey piques true interest from applicants. And well-treated, even rejected applicants may well reapply for future openings or refer others, which can be invaluable. 80% who do not receive an offer are likely to reapply if given a good impression. The downstream benefits can be remarkable

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

The candidate experience is central to attracting the best talent.

Interpretations and feelings an applicant has through recruitment — applying to onboarding — matter tremendously. Companies that create an easy, rewarding journey are the ones drawing and landing the best. So much so, Forbes calls the candidate experience competitive edge worth honing.

Employer reputation is heavily decided by candidate experience.

Word of mouth. Social proof. Online reviews. Public sentiment, at once, so changeable yet fixed. These social phenomena are co-created by each candidate’s experience. They become the reputation preceding you. And U.S. companies may spend up to $7.6M compensating for bad reputations.

Optimizing the candidate experience requires a comprehensive view.

In looking at the whole candidate journey you will spot key moments for better technology and personal touches. Intuitive application systems and resume parsing tools are foundational. Personalized emails and interview invitations as well as flexible scheduling go a long way in nurturing candidates too. Physical space matters as well. For virtual meetings, an office booth like hushHybrid is ideal — a choice spot to connect via video with a prospect from within the office. Private and quiet, the video booth protects your attention, ensuring remote applications get all of it. Likewise, a cozy meeting booth like hushMeet is suited for in-person interviews. Class A for guaranteed speech privacy, such meeting pods honor the universal preference for privacy

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Leveraging technology with a human touch…

Without surprise, top employers use AI. Such tools can streamline tedious processes, freeing up precious bandwidth for personability. Always, technology must be tempered by the human feel and a real pair of eyes.

Feedback, feedback, feedback…

Data on the candidate journey should be collected at multiple checkpoints, not just the last. Some pivotal moments include post-application submission, after the initial screening, following each interview stage, and during onboarding.

Think positive…

Small, warm gestures can make the candidate’s time more pleasant overall. This can include simple things as personalized notes, welcome signs, parking validation, or company swag.

Paying attention to detail…

Application ease. Timely replies. Office “vibe.” Private, comfortable meeting spaces (like Hushoffice booths). These are the details which form a candidate’s indelible sense of your company. With meticulous focus, their journey is made smoother and most successful, enhancing your reputation.

Candidate journey mapping…

Mapping and measuring the candidate experience is an awesomely helpful exercise! How did the applicant find your opening? What was their first thought? How long did they wait to hear back? What did the interview space look and feel like? It will be clear where things flow and where there is stickiness. Perhaps, in reflection, you notice frequent confusion to do with interview logistics. Auto reminders with detailed instructions would help there. Maybe new feedback indicates that the process is altogether too lengthy. Simplifying it will stop interest from waning. Should you find that many applicants express feeling left hanging waiting for replies, prioritizing quicker follow ups is the simple fix. There is always room for improvement and, more often than not, improvements are fairly easy to implement

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Acoustic booths — a new dimension of recruitment in a hybrid world?

Applicants want to feel comfortable. Recruiters need absolute focus to correspond openly and fairly. Booths like Hushoffice are noise-free, sound-insulating, fully furnished and equipped meeting spaces that cater to both parties. They guarantee each interview premium confidentiality and ease.

• HushHybrid, the 1-person virtual interview booth for busy recruiters. Acoustic, well-appointed, and with extra video light strips to illuminate the host’s face. HushHybrid is the right place in the office for HR personnel to touch base with prospects via video.

• HushMeet, an intimate meeting space for great rapport-building. HushMeet is a 4-person booth available with a convenient meeting table and 2 two-seater sofas. While its furniture supports attentive one-on-one discussion, its power outlets keep all devices charged.

• HushAccess.L, a 4-6 person conference booth for team onboarding. Need more space? HushAccess.L is the mobile, acoustic office cabin that seats between 4-6 people depending on how it is configured. With adjustable lights and ventilation, the large cabin keeps everything fresh.

An office acoustic booth’s quiet, focused interior helps quell interview jitters.

93% of Americans have had anxiety due to an interview. 41% say the prospect of not being able to answer a question made them most nervous. Privacy booths like the Hushoffice line help relieve such tension by enveloping the user(s) in an undisturbed alcove, shielded from prying eyes and listening ears.

Psychology of space. The interview room supports (or undermines) candidates.

Interviewees that display high anxiety are rated poorer by recruiters. Compromised by extra sensitivity to spatial chaos, such a candidate’s potential may be missed on an open floor. Booths help by giving every applicant the best possible meeting space, so that all are judged by aptitudes alone.

Read more: Addressing spatial chaos in the office with acoustic booths

Hybrid recruiting. Interview virtually with real success in hushHybrid.

Hybrid workplaces are unpredictable. HushHybrid answers the recruiter’s call for a dedicated virtual-interview space. With excellent face-illuminating light strips, a clean backdrop, and high-caliber acoustic engineering, the booth insulates the user in a professional atmosphere of total focus.

Booths are a dignified interview space, vastly improving candidate experience.

52% of job seekers have declined an offer due to a bad hiring experience, including, for a fair share, a bad work environment. Booths are a smart response to this dilemma because they perfect one of the most essential touchpoints in the application/interview process: the interview itself.

An impression that lasts. Meeting booths exemplify a company’s modernity

Office pods and booths are complete, standalone workspaces that can be relocated within minutes. They signal to candidates that your organization is poised for change and capable of providing a fully functional office through every transition.

Ensuring privacy and psychological comfort. Pods and booths do it all.

When a candidate spots private booths in an office space on their first visit, they get the idea that should they be picked for the position, no trouble will be had finding privacy for confidential, sensitive, or personal matters during a regular work day. Moreover, the candidate is reassured of your organization’s sincere regard for employee well-being. Access to peace-and-quiet is, unfortunately, limited in too many open working spaces, but a privilege that every employee deserves. So it is, the workplace complete with these calm and secure environments is one which respects the functional and emotional needs of employees. Truly, without self-contained enclaves such as booths, an open office will give the typical applicant a degree of anxiety, as they meet with the thought of being subject to everyone else’s commotion and eavesdropping on a daily basis. Hushoffice booths are a flawless answer to this uncomfortable question of privacy in open office spaces

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Mobile pods, booths, and cabins are the open office’s completion. They allow for the beneficial aspects of spatial openness to bloom by balancing these aspects out with their necessary counterpoint. Privacy.

Check out the Hushoffice line of acoustic office booths here.

Candidate experience – summarized

• It is critical that organizations make a terrific impression from the initial interaction every applicant has with them. Indeed, in the U.S., it is estimated that companies spend up to $7.6M in additional wages making up for poor reputations. This translates into costs of 10% more per hire. Being the first point of contact in the candidate experience, every job posting must give a clearly defined description within an easy-to-navigate platform. The entire process, start to the finish, must be thorough but efficient.

• Interview nervousness is an infamous part of every candidate’s experience. In fact, a whopping 93% of Americans have had anxiety from a job interview. 41% say the thought of simply not being able to respond to a question worried them most. This perfectly natural phenomena can be minimized by the provision of private interview spaces like Hushoffice booths. By connecting in an ideal meeting environment, you ensure no outstanding candidate’s great attributes get eclipsed by nervousness to do with distraction or self-consciousness.

• 52% of job seekers have turned down offers due to bad experiences in the hiring process. This statistic highlights brilliantly the importance in refining every step of the candidate’s journey. Technology should always be used with a human touch. Feedback at every step is crucial. Minor gestures like quick, personable follow-ups often make the world of a difference. And physical spaces matter. Consider that, for a sizable share of that 52% cohort, a bad work environment partly explained their “no.” This means the office’s design must be modern and functional, starting with the space where the main magic happens: the interview room. For seamless interviews, consider a booth like hushFree.M for 4 people.

Candidate experience – frequently asked questions

What is meant by candidate experience?

How job seekers perceive and interact with a company throughout the hiring process. This includes everything from the application stage to interviews, communication, and overall treatment.

How to improve interview experience for candidates?

Hold interviews in a comfortable and professional environment, such as an acoustic pod or well-appointed meeting room. Clear communication beforehand about the interview process, including the schedule and expectations, will also help by making candidates feel prepared and valued.

Why does the candidate experience matter?

Candidate experience matters not only for attracting top talent and enhancing employer branding but also for fostering higher employee retention and engagement rates. A quality one can reduce recruitment costs and turnover by valuing and respecting candidates from the start. It also contributes to legal compliance and ethical standards, guarding against discrimination and enhancing organizational reputation.