We all know that candidates bring their A game to the recruiting process, so why should it be any different for the company? Starting long before the interview, candidates begin to form their opinion about employment with you. Will their experience with your organization have them swooning over the a job offer, or will it leave them longing for a different position? As you think of the answer to that question, take a look at just how important the candidate experience is:

Whether it’s one day or 90 days, every company has some type of onboarding process. Filling out the necessary paperwork, talking through the company procedures and training your new hire is a crucial part of their first few days. SHRM estimates that engaging onboarding programs lead to 91% retention of employees through the first year.  Don’t settle for the bare minimum when it has been proven that a great onboarding experience will help to retain top talent. Check out these must read articles on why onboarding is so important and how you can create an experience that will make your new hires thrilled to be working with you.

Rising candidate controlled hiring environments are calling for complete shifts in how recruiters approach hiring. CareerBuilder surveyed companies across the globe to discover roughly 45% of businesses are unable to fill much-needed positions due to the dearth of qualified candidates; this is largely in part to the low unemployment rates coupled with heightened awareness among candidates in their power to examine a company’s employer brand. A few jarring numbers setting the stage for hiring strategies: