Instead of employers herding applicants through an employment process with a few lucky ones making it to the end, today we have a few, often demanding applicants telling us that they might consider working for our companies. And, we are happy to have their interest. Succesfully landing the few candidates that surface in this job market requires a strong customer orientation, with the applicant being the customer. Many companies have found it necessary to reengineer their employment processes to make them applicant-friendly, quick and painless. Applicants today want and expect to be treated with the utmost respect.
Applicants perceive the company based upon the people they meet in the interview process.
It is often their only window to the culture and environment of the company. As such, it is important that we structure our processes to ensure that we give as much information as we seek from the candidate. This requires planning and assigned responsibilities. Candidates have been known to walk out on interviews when they have been kept waiting between interviews by managers who are tied up with something more important. To the applicant, there is nothing more important, and to be put off this way is rude, inconsiderate and unprofessional.