Published September 2021 and kept as a record. The figures and the law have moved on since it was written. For the current position see STAR, certification for in-house recruiters. Note added 21 October 2026.
Employers, your competition is loving the fact that you are losing top talent to them. And the reason why they’re doing a better job in attracting and retaining your best employees is the efficiency of their recruitment process.
In a candidate short market, the talent war is a reality. A shortage of talent means there are lots of jobs available for top performers who can take their pick. Employers need to change their attitude towards their often longwinded and inefficient recruitment processes or risk the continued hemorrhaging of top talent.
How to develop a more streamlined recruitment process:
Too many stages
In many cases employers don’t really understand how to create a hiring process that only has the required number of steps and in an order that keeps a candidate engaged. You need to have a robust hiring process, not a long winded and lengthy one. Taking too long to arrive at any decision will undoubtedly mean losing top candidates. Many employers have a quick and engaging process that remains robust but also allows them to arrive at outcome in an efficient and timely manner, keeping the candidate engaged and keen to start with them.
A good rule of thumb is to analyse how many candidates disengaged before completing the process, you may be surprised! Also, get candidate feedback on your hiring process, they may offer some useful insights.
Accurate job description
Your job description should contain keywords that indicate or imply the kind of results you are planning to achieve. A clear, accurate, and compelling job description should tell candidates everything they need to know about whether they are the right fit for the role. This will attract better qualified candidates and will help focusing on what type of interview questions to ask.
Speedy Screening
Screening applicants beforehand will ensure a more efficient process when it comes time to hire. Some approaches for accelerating the screening process include:
- Early on in the recruitment process, utilise video interviews instead of face-to-face interviews.
- To ensure consistent and efficient screening criteria, it's important to use structured interviews.
- Use tests and questionnaires to screen out unqualified applicants
Stay in touch
Effective communication is an essential part of any successful relationship, and the hiring process is no exception. Without it, everyone involved in the hiring process can feel frustrated.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could gain the trust of candidates by simply emailing them after they've passed an initial screening? It is a simple courtesy many hiring managers should extend to applicants, which can also be automated to your advantage.
With a robust, timely recruitment process, you can achieve the efficient hiring process that keeps candidates engaged and energised throughout.