Summer is almost here and for most employers that means one thing, Recruitment! As it becomes increasingly difficult to find qualified job seekers, many organizations are offering incentives (hiring bonuses, increased benefits, and higher starting wages to name a few) to attract job seekers to their organization. Unfortunately, may of those same organizations could also be turning away qualified job seekers without even realizing it!
 
As an HR professional and college instructor, it amazes me how often I hear students say that they have applied for a job with an organization that has failed to even acknowledge their application. Not only are they disappointed or frustrated, they are also left wondering whether their application was REALLY given to HR or the hiring manager? Was it lost in cyberspace? Was the position filled and the ad not deleted from the website? Or were they not qualified for the job?
 
When asked what they do when this happens, most responded by saying "keep looking". Though there are some exceptions, those job seekers who are truly determined to work for an organization who will (and do) follow up, but more often than not they will typically move on and apply for the next attractive position.
 
We could ask ourselves, "If the job seeker isn't persistent enough to get the job, do we really want them working for our organization?" or "if they are so quick to keep looking, how committed would they have been to the job/organization if they had gotten the job?" but the reality is that today's job seekers are fully aware that employers are competing to hire them. While this means that they likely have their choice of employer, many of today's job seekers remain attracted to organizations will value them as employees, and individuals.
 
Here's where manners come in. Many organizations today are missing the opportunity to capture the attention of qualified job seekers (and potentially reduce the time/cost of recruitment) by simply acknowledging and/or thanking them for applying. Not sure how? Here are a few tips to get you started:
 
Use Auto-Reply Messages: If applicants are required to email or submit applications online, set the system to automatically respond. Thank candidates for their application and advise them of the next step in the recruitment process.
 
Test (& Retest) online application systems: If applicants are not receiving an auto-response (and they should be), perhaps it is truly because their application has not been received! The system may have worked when it was initially set up, but how often (and when was it last) checked to ensure that it is still working as it should?
 
Create template responses: Use form letters that can be mailed/emailed to unsuccessful applicants to thank them for applying, inform them as to why they were unsuccessful in getting the job (ie. lack qualifications), and encourage them to consider other positions with the organization in the future. Although this system will take a bit of time to implement and perform, it will leave candidates feeling that they are valued and they will be more likely to reapply in the future.
 
Tell applicants what to expect: If it is not possible for the organization to respond personally to every candidate, let them know in advance. Job ads (or the company career website) could include a message such as "While we thank everyone who applies, due to the volume of applications received only qualified candidates will be contacted." This tells the applicant that positions with the company are in high-demand and that they may not necessarily receive a response.
 
In today's world of competitive recruitment, following these tips and saying "thank you" can go a long way towards standing out from the competition and capturing qualified job seekers who truly want to work for an organization that will value them. Happy Recruiting!