Case Study: Enhancing Employer Brand through a Superior Candidate Experience

Client Overview

Our client, a rapidly growing technology company, recognized the need to overhaul their recruitment strategy to attract top-tier talent in a competitive market. With an ambitious growth plan, they sought to improve their employer brand by creating a superior candidate experience, both digitally and in-person. The company aimed to position itself as an employer of choice, known for its innovative culture and commitment to employee success.

The Challenge

The client faced several challenges that were hindering their ability to attract and retain top talent:

  1. Outdated Technology: The client’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS) was outdated and poorly integrated with their Human Resource Information System (HRIS), leading to inefficiencies in the recruitment process and a subpar candidate experience.
  2. Weak Employer Branding: The existing employer branding was generic and lacked authenticity. It did not effectively communicate the company’s values, culture, or the unique opportunities it offered to potential candidates.
  3. Inconsistent Candidate Experience: Candidates’ mixed feedback revealed that the application experience varied considerably, especially during the technical interview process.

Our Approach

To address these challenges, we developed and implemented a comprehensive recruiting strategy to create a superior candidate experience that would enhance the employer brand:

  1. Upgraded ATS Technology and Integration
    • We recommended and facilitated the upgrade of the client’s ATS to a modern, user-friendly system that seamlessly integrated with their existing HRIS, which:
      • Improved data flow and communication between systems, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring a smoother candidate journey from application to onboarding.
      • Featured enhanced analytics, allowing the client to track and measure key recruitment metrics, further optimizing the process.
  2. Refreshed Employer Branding
    • Authentic Material Development: Collaborating with the client to refresh their employer branding, we created authentic, engaging content that resonated with their target audience. One refresh was updating the company’s career site with new messaging that highlighted their values, culture, and the impact employees could make within the organization.
    • Targeted Marketing Content: We developed targeted marketing campaigns that spoke directly to the specific interests and needs of different candidate personas. These included blog posts, infographics, and social media content that showcased the company’s commitment to innovation and employee growth.
    • Video Testimonials: To add authenticity, we produced a series of video testimonials of current employees from various departments. The videos highlighted employees’ accounts of career progression, workplace culture, and the company’s supportive environment. Our aim was to help potential candidates envision themselves as part of the team.
  3. Streamlined the Application Process
    • Mobile Optimization: We ensured that the application process was fully optimized for mobile devices so candidates could apply from any device. The new system’s simplified application form reduced drop-off rates and improved the overall candidate experience.
    • Ease of Access: We integrated social media profiles into the application process so candidates could apply quickly and conveniently using their LinkedIn profiles.
  4. Established Service Levels for Technical Interviews
    • We worked with the client to establish clear service level agreements (SLAs) for the technical interviewing process. We set standards for response times, interview scheduling, and feedback delivery, which ensured a consistent and positive candidate experience.
    • Training and Support: We provided training to interviewers, emphasizing best practices for conducting technical interviews while creating a welcoming and engaging environment that reflected the company’s values.
  5. Ensured an ongoing Feedback and Continuous Improvement
    • We implemented a method for candidates to provide feedback about their experiences throughout the recruitment process. This feedback was used to make continuous improvements so the candidate experience remained positive and aligned with the evolving needs of the company.

The Outcome

As a result of these efforts, the client achieved significant improvements in their recruitment process and employer brand.

  • Enhanced Employer Brand: The refreshed employer branding, combined with authentic content and testimonials, significantly improved the company’s reputation as an employer of choice. This was reflected in increased engagement on social media, higher application rates, and positive candidate feedback.
  • Superior Candidate Experience: The upgraded ATS, along with the streamlined application process and consistent technical interviews, led to a marked improvement in candidate satisfaction. Candidates reported a more seamless and professional experience, both digitally and in-person.
  • Increased Quality of Hire: The focus on creating a positive candidate experience helped attract higher-quality candidates who were more aligned with the company’s values and culture. This resulted in better-fit hires, reduced time-to-fill, and improved retention rates.
  • Measurable Success: The client was able to track and measure improvements in key recruitment metrics, including a 25% reduction in time-to-hire and a 30% increase in candidate satisfaction scores.

Conclusion

Through a strategic focus on enhancing the candidate experience, both digitally and in-person, we were able to help our client strengthen their employer brand and attract top talent in a competitive market. This case study demonstrates our ability to deliver tailored recruitment solutions that drive measurable improvements in both the quality of hire and overall candidate satisfaction.