Refine The Hiring Process With Speed, Transparency, Data and Referrals

This is the million dollar question! In speaking with many of our customers, however, the five suggestions below seem to make the biggest impact:

1. Refine your hiring process so it’s a good experience for applicants. In a competitive hiring market, even small obstacles to the application process can have a big impact. Review your process to make sure it’s easy to navigate on a smartphone, and make sure applicants aren’t required to submit more info than is necessary to apply.

   
2. Move quickly. Workstream data shows that there’s a 25% greater chance of hiring an applicant when a potential employer contacts them within an hour of receiving their application. If that seems challenging, consider using text messaging in your communication efforts. Not only is SMS communication easier, but it’s more likely to be seen by an applicant.
   
3. Be transparent about growth opportunities. Despite popular opinion, many hourly workers are looking for a job opportunity that offers them the ability to grow within the role. If you are able to explain, in the job description or an early conversation, tangible opportunities for advancement that exist within your organization, they are much more likely to prioritize that opportunity. And don’t be vague, include specific timelines. For example, “This role often leads to advancing into a supervisory role within 6 months of successful employment.”
4. Collect and review the data. Automation has brought with it the opportunity to collect data around every stage of the hiring process. It’s important to choose tools and platforms that allow you to review that data, and then focus on the most important hiring metrics. If you see a certain stage of the process that’s taking too long, or where you’re losing a high percentage of applicants, then that could signal an opportunity to refine the process.
5. Establish an employee referral program. Your greatest source of new employees are your current employees, and making the most of this opportunity requires a strategic, organized employee referral program. What makes a successful employee referral program? Offer appealing incentives, keep it simple, and promote it often.

– Daniel Blaser, Deskless Workforce Evangelist at Workstream