One in three graduate job-seekers has stopped buying products following a negative experience while applying for a job with that brand, according to new research.
The study of 2,500 graduates shows that employers need to ensure that all aspects of the recruitment process are run effectively to avoid negative impact on the bottom line.
Almost a quarter (22%) of respondents to the poll by HR and outsourcing specialists Reed Consulting turned down a job offer because of an organisationÍs behaviour during the recruitment process.
The top five complaints were:
not hearing back from a company at all (66%)
no feedback being given (60%)
job that was advertised changing or no longer being available (32%)
lack of information about the organisation or role (31%)
long delays before attending final interview/assessment centre (22.5%).
Becky Remington, head of graduate services at Reed Consulting, said the results were a wake-up call for organisations who often forget that potential employees can also be existing or potential customers.
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ñEmployers need to ensure that every part of their recruitment process runs smoothly from attraction all the way through to the final offer stage to protect their businesses performance and employer brand,î she said.
ñWith the current war for talent in graduate recruitment, where candidates often progress quickly to senior levels of the organisation, employers need to treat their applicants as future company directors when designing and delivering their recruitment processes.î