Recreating the Candidate Experience
Companies that are able to continue their hiring processes uninterrupted by the current environment are transforming the traditional candidate experience. In the wake of remote working, zoom meetings, and social distancing, making candidates feel valued has presented new obstacles for organizations bringing on new staff members.
How can you improve the candidate experience with the absence of handshakes and interpersonal connections? Here are four ways companies have flipped the script and mastered the candidate experience from afar. Keep in mind, some of these examples are familiar to us; however, they have translated seamlessly into the digital landscape and provided new opportunities for employing remote workforces.
1. Office Tours
A LinkedIn survey revealed that candidates prefer to learn about a company’s culture through virtual tours of office spaces. This allows new hires to see what the office looks like and get a feel for what the company is all about. This process helps to alleviate the pressure to make a judgment call regarding whether or not the position is a good fit for them without physically meeting.
2. Interview Resources
The candidate experience should create added value for the candidate. An interview, in-person or virtual, should begin with setting up candidates for success. A proactive approach many companies are taking while undergoing interviews online is sending a high-level overview to the candidate prior to the interview that covers what they can expect. This tactic has received praise from candidates participating in both in-person and online interviews.
3. Welcome Message
We have seen more and more companies sharing posts celebrating new hires and teammates on their social media pages. This is a great way to make new employees feel welcome and valued. This strategy is not new to the social media landscape; however, it has grown in popularity while many companies have moved their candidate experiences online.
4. Smooth Onboard
Going from a candidate to an employee is a critical component in the candidate experience and not to be overlooked. This will set the stage for the new employees’ time at their new job. With many new hires being onboarding digitally, this step becomes increasingly important. Many companies have worked hard to set up new remote hires with everything they need in order to be successful. Some companies have gone above and beyond by sending their new hires care packages, company swag, and other welcome gifts.
Companies are adapting well to manage the remote candidate experience. It's worth noting that for many candidates, this is their first time they’ve interviewed for a starting remote position. The execution of the candidate experience may be plagued with new challenges, but it is more important than ever for companies to showcase their values and seamlessly recreate the hiring process to improve the overall candidate experience.