As a candidate, the worst thing to hear from recruiters is absolutely nothing. After putting time and effort into an application, the last thing anyone wants is to be left questioning their status in the recruitment process. Here are three tips for rejecting an unsuccessful candidate in a way that leaves them feeling positive about you as an organisation. Learning how to reject applicants the right way is crucial for maintaining a positive company image.
Always send a response
When there are multiple applicants for a role, it can be tempting to skip responding to those who aren’t shortlisted. This can provide a negative experience for those applicants. Ideally, candidates should receive a response to their application within two weeks of the job closing. If they have been interviewed, this should be within a few days. Learning how to reject applicants the right way involves timely responses.
MyNewTerm enables you to send an email to multiple candidates at the same time. This allows you to save time when letting them know they have been unsuccessful at the application stage. The email templates are easy to adapt so you can personalise the wording to your organisation. There is also a separate template for those who are unsuccessful after an interview.
Be honest
If the candidate is unsuccessful after an interview, it is really valuable to provide some constructive feedback on what they could do to improve next time. It is easy to forget just how much time and effort can go into planning and preparing for an interview. This may not be necessary if you’re sending the rejection right after they’ve applied This is especially true if there are several applicants for the role. However, it leaves a great impression if you can offer a few words of advice on how to reject applicants the right way.
When adapting your email templates in MyNewTerm, you can add in how candidates are able to get feedback on their application or interview.
Keep the experience positive
If candidates have a positive experience of your organisation, they are more likely to apply again in the future. This means keeping communication timely, updating all candidates and making sure all feedback is constructive. Candidates are also much more likely to tell their friends and family about a negative experience. Word of mouth is a very powerful thing! When you learn how to reject applicants the right way, you improve your overall recruitment process and reputation.
With MyNewTerm, you can invite candidates to join your talent pool, keeping them in mind for future opportunities..
If you are looking for ways to streamline you recruitment, book a MyNewTerm demo here and let our sales team show you how you can improve the candidate experience at your school or trust.