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.

"Our ability to hire multiple roles at once has increased and overall reporting across all recruitment efforts is significantly improved. We also have been able to use a lot of automation making my life easier! We have decreased hiring times by approximately a week. Our team has grown by nearly 50%. Our organization is also better aligned and employee referrals have nearly doubled."

Jack Massion
Talent and HR Manager, SystemsAccountants

Trusted by over 10,000+ organizations and 200,000+ recruiters globally

Why Teamtailor?

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."

Erica Lydell
People & Culture Director, John Fluevog Shoes

Ready to improve candidate experience, employer brand, and retention?

Download the report and start with real candidate insight.

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