5 Signs you could be putting candidates off your company

27/06/2023

5 Signs you could be putting candidates off your company

You advertised the job. You shortlisted the potentials. You got a decent turnout at the assessment day. But then things took a bit of a nose dive. Scratching your head wondering why? Well, if any of these are true for you, they may be the reason candidates have gone cold turkey on you.

Slow feedback

Recruitment isn’t like the dating world, so don’t try and play it cool by leaving applicants hanging.
Odds are, they’re applying elsewhere too, so if you take too long to get back to them, you run the risk of them accepting an offer made by someone else.
Whether your recruitment process is an assessment day or a straight interview, set expectations at the end and stick to the timeframe you give them.

Lack of interest

When it comes to impressing one another, recruitment is a two-way street.
It’s no use candidates pulling out all the stops to stand out if you don’t reciprocate, because you’ll turn them off before you get chance to make an offer.
Never underestimate how far the little things go. Simply offering them a cuppa, showing them around your offices, introducing them to the team (and making sure they’re on their best behaviour!), and just being generally friendly will go a long way.

Not-so-glowing Glassdoor reviews

Glassdoor is a biggie nowadays. If yours is littered with negative reviews, it can really damage the quantity and calibre of candidates you get through.
In terms of damage limitation, it’s important to monitor your reviews and respond, so applicants can see your side of the story too.
For example, if you’ve got a negative review saying “I was worked into the ground and the stress was unbearable”, you could turn it into a positive by saying something like “we’re a fast paced company and we’re constantly pushing the boundaries to get the best out of our team and for our customers”.

Unappealing premises

Let’s be honest, we spend a lot of our lives at work. So why would anyone want to turn up to a dingy, poorly lit office that has no charisma about it?
Your decor says a lot about your company and its personality, so make sure yours is reflective of that.
We’re not suggesting you have to give your premises a complete makeover, but think about where you’re holding your interviews and assessment days.
Small touches - like a window letting in natural light, a lick of colour on the walls and a plant pot, for example - really can make the biggest of differences.

Poor communication

Never disregard a candidate or treat them any less professionally because they didn’t get the job.
Just because they’re not what you’re looking for right now, it doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future, so it’s important to still keep them keen.
Get back to them - promptly, let them down gently, give them some constructive feedback, wish them well, and leave the door open for any future opportunities.

Need a hand?

If you need help filling your call centre with top talent - now or in the future, get in touch with our recruitment specialists on GreatPeople@cactussearch.co.uk or 01905 330 790.