When you have an opening on your team, you want to fill the position with the best person you can find for the job. But you may be hindering yourself with an inefficient application process. 

A poor application experience can deter top tier talent from applying with your company. A recent CareerBuilder study found that the application abandonment rate for some companies can be as high as 60%. That’s a lot of potentially great candidates you could miss out on. 

To ensure your application process isn’t repelling the best and brightest candidates, follow these recommendations.

Make Your Application Process Mobile-Friendly 

According to a recent Glassdoor survey, 58% of job seekers are looking for jobs on their phones. Considering the majority of job seekers are finding jobs using their phones, it’s now more important than ever that your online application is mobile-friendly. In fact, the same study found that having a mobile-friendly application process can increase job applicants by 11.6%. That means your chances of finding your ideal candidate go up if they can easily apply from their phone.

Simplify Your Online Application 

Nothing will repel candidates faster than a complicated online application. A recent survey found that 73% of applicants abandon job applications if they take more than 15 minutes. That’s why it’s so important that you make your application process simple. 

To do so, ensure you aren’t asking applicants to input the same information multiple times or complete lengthy forms. If good candidates see your application process as inefficient, they may get a bad first impression of your company and choose to not apply for a position. 

Confirm You Received Their Application 

One of the biggest complaints from job seekers is they apply to a job and never hear back. Considering an open position receives 250 applications on average, it’s understandable that you don’t have time to respond to every single one (especially those that are extremely unqualified for the position). 

At the very least though, you could employ an automated process that sends a confirmation email letting candidates know you received their application. This will build goodwill with candidates and help improve the perception of your company.

Work With a Recruiting Firm 

Let’s face it: the online application process can be very impersonal. The truth is, applicants would rather interact with a real person who can answer their questions and provide more insight about the available position. That’s why many companies choose to work with a recruiting firm to fill their open positions. 

When you post a job online, you are simply waiting for your ideal candidate to apply. Recruiters take a more proactive approach, reaching out to those candidates whose skills and experience match your ideal hire.  

In addition, posting your position to job boards or paying for ads to promote your openings can get expensive, especially if it takes a long time to find the right candidate. By working with a recruiting firm, you can save time and money because the hiring process will go faster. 

Find Out More About Working with a Recruiting Firm 

If you want to learn more about how a recruiting firm can help improve your application process, contact Burchard & Associates. We’ve helped countless companies in the St. Louis area and beyond find the ideal candidates for their open positions. Contact us today to learn more.