The recruiting and hiring process sometimes seems like it never ends. Even after you’ve found and hired a great candidate, there are still more steps to take. One step that some employers and recruiters opt to skip is the follow-up with candidates who were not selected. This can be uncomfortable and time-consuming and may not seem to have a lot of benefits for the employer. But there are actually more benefits than it may seem. Let’s take a look.
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Why Follow Up with Candidates Who Were Not Selected?
As an employer (or recruiter), there are a lot of reasons why you may want to follow up with all applicants, even if the nonshortlisted ones just get a form letter:
- It shows attention to detail and professionalism.
- It lets the applicants know to move on to other opportunities if they have not already done so.
- It can foster a good reputation for the employer, even among people who were turned down for the job. By leaving the unsuccessful candidates with a good impression, it increases the likelihood that they will apply again and/or help spread positive word of mouth.
- It can save you time in the long run because applicants who do not hear back may still call for information on their status in the process.
- In some cases, the employer can gain valuable insights into the candidate’s perspective on the process by listening to feedback when delivering the rejection news.
What’s the Harm in Not Following Up?
Notwithstanding the benefits listed above, some people may still be asking why they should follow up with rejected candidates. It may simply seem to be too much effort, despite the benefits. However, there can also be negative consequences associated with not following up:
- Never hearing back may leave a sour taste for candidates, which may mean they won’t apply in the future. This is especially a concern given that some candidates may not have been qualified for this role but may be perfectly qualified for a future role (and may now not apply for it).
- Candidates who never hear back may end up with a negative impression of the entire organization, which they may express to others. This could manifest in many ways, such as online comments or negative word of mouth. This can hurt the hiring process long term. It could even have eventual effects on sales for the company.
- With the speed that information spreads online, getting negative commentary from applicants who feel they’ve been forgotten or ignored can tarnish the employment brand for the organization and can negatively impact recruiting efforts in the future. Even simple commentary on personal social media sites may be seen by hundreds (if not thousands) of others.
Now that we’ve taken a look at the rationale behind following up with all candidate, take a look at part 2, where we’ll discuss how to approach the rejection news.