Candidates often lose interest when left waiting, but scheduling follow-up calls or introducing them to team members helps keep their enthusiasm high.
Are you a hiring manager or sales leader who has found a strong candidate early in your search? Keeping top candidates engaged is crucial to ensuring they remain interested in your opportunity. I’ll explain why candidates lose interest and share simple strategies for keeping them engaged throughout the hiring process.
Meeting an exceptional candidate at the beginning of your hiring process is common. You think their job potential is strong but still plan to talk to more candidates since you’ve just started recruiting. So, you end up telling your first candidate, “We’re just getting started, so we’ll come back to you after we’ve talked to others.”
When candidates aren’t scheduled for additional conversations or getting regular updates, their interest and enthusiasm levels are bound to wane over time. Some candidates might lose interest quickly, while others may take longer, but the trend is the same. To prevent losing top talent, consider these straightforward strategies:
• Schedule future conversations. Simply schedule the candidate for another call in the future—whether in a week or a half. Two weeks might feel a bit long, but having something on the calendar keeps them engaged and reassures them of your continued interest.
“Don’t lose the best candidate just because they happened to be the first person you spoke to—keep them engaged.”
• Introduce them to additional team members. If you’ve already taken the strongest candidate through the whole process and they’ve spoken to all the key people, consider having them talk with someone else. This could be someone not always involved in the interview process but can provide valuable insight. It’s not about wasting time but keeping them engaged and interested, especially if there’s a real chance you’ll make an offer.
• Maintain regular communication. Even if you’re still interviewing other candidates, keeping the first candidate informed prevents their interest from waning. Regular updates and conversations help maintain their enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Keeping a good candidate is simple but essential—just stay in touch and bring in someone new from your team to keep them excited about the opportunity. You don’t want to lose a great candidate just because they happened to be the first one you spoke with, right? So, if you’re looking for more strategies to enhance your hiring process or need assistance finding top sales talent, please contact me at +1 (703) 356-2190 or brock@cmicareers.com. I’m here to help you build a solid and engaged team.