3 Essential Stages of a Good Candidate Feedback Process
The whole topic of providing candidate feedback can feel like ankle biting. But, with the pressure to prove candidate feedback is not a simple nuisance, there are real costs to not providing employee feedback such as employer brand damage which will negatively affect your attraction and retention capabilities. But, this is a shame as it is possible to provide feedback to candidates in a progressive, highly manageable way and with minimal administrative burden – and we have given some tips on how to do this below.
Provide three Levels of feedback
For example, why not do an initial first level of feedback, which occurs after you have done your initial round of short-listing. This can be a generalized feedback that explains where the bar was set for this role based on the applicant quality and list the selection criteria in order of significance so rejected candidates can see on a general level why they were not successful. This is better than no reply or simply saying thanks but no thanks.
Then, consider doing a second-stage feedback following the first round interviews, but making this a little more individualized, by providing a letter of rejection with more personalized feedback. If you want to minimize the administrative burden, don’t provide feedback in the rejection letter; simply make an offer to provide feedback. Research shows that only 10 percent of people request feedback anyway, so your administration burden will drop with this approach.
Also, make sure to take a constructive view on proceedings and give them tips and advice on how they can develop in these particular areas or whether there are other related roles where their skill set makes them more suited.
Also, don’t let them leave without clearly outlining their strengths, ensuring to provide examples, and always invite them to apply to your company again as this will leave them with hope and a goal for the future.
A special thank you goes out this month’s Leadership Sponsors: Zoho, TheLadders, and Linium Staffing. Please visit their sites to understand how these quality services can elevate your interviewing and assessment.