What 300 Candidates Really Think About Your Hiring Process
Today’s candidates are informed, selective, and quick to walk away from poor experiences. We surveyed 300 active job seekers to understand what actually matters to them: from application forms and interview timelines to culture, communication, and growth.
This report breaks down the moments that define candidate experience and shows where employers are still missing the mark.
Key Takeaways from the Report
Candidates Care About the Full Picture
Candidates still expect competitive compensation, but salary alone isn’t enough. Growth opportunities, flexibility, and work-life balance now play an equally critical role in whether someone applies and whether they stay.
Silence Speaks Louder Than You Think
Ghosting, slow responses, and unclear next steps are among the top frustrations candidates experience. Most expect to hear back within 2–3 days after an interview, even if the answer is “not yet.
Candidate Experience Is Employer Branding
Candidates judge culture long before day one through your job descriptions, application flow, interview structure, and follow-ups. Small moments have an outsized impact on how your company is remembered.
So, what caught my eye recently?
✨ Teamtailor ✨
I would put them firmly in the need to have bucket. Why? Because their ATS makes recruiting AND employer branding actually fun!
Trusted by over 10,000+ organizations and 200,000+ recruiters globally
Attract Talent and Make a Great First Impression
Our customers see results
- Collaborate better with their team
- 94%
- See an increase in qualified candidates
- 97%
- Say their hiring process is faster
- 89%
"I love Teamtailor! It's so friendly and fun to use. Our candidates get a great experience and enjoy filling out applications. I've used other products, but nothing else is quite like TT. <3 I love telling other people about it, I feel like I've found a "secret" awesome ATS."
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Ready to improve candidate experience, employer brand, and retention?
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