With many out of work during the global recession, job hunting is a way of life.  Sadly it’s often a thankless task that sees considerable effort put into applying for jobs, attending interviews, networking and so on.  Often it appears a thankless task.  The vast majority of recruiters fail to notify you when you’re not offered an interview.  Many even fail to notify you if you were unsuccessful after an interview.  If you do get told, it’s often accompanied by some lame ‘feedback’ that in all honesty is nothing of the sort.

For a long time employers could get away with this, but social media is shedding light onto just how these recruitment practices make the rejected party feel, and the answer should make recruiters sit up and think.

Online job site CareerBuilder studied some 4,000 people about their feelings on the recruitment process.  They found that the way rejection was handled had a big impact on their subsequent feelings towards that company, and in many cases impacted upon whether or not they would buy from them again.  As befits our social age, they were also more likely to discourage friends and family from applying with them, and indeed even discouraged them from shopping with them.

With 25% of candidates experiencing dissatisfaction after the application process, that’s a whole lot of people recruiters are pissing off.

It’s not just lack of communication that upsets people though (despite 75% of candidates not receiving anything).  Several other actions also led to bad experiences for applicants, including: employers who didn’t let candidates know the company’s decision following an interview, job requirements that didn’t match what was in the job posting or company representatives who didn’t present a positive work experience or seem knowledgeable.

Sanja Licina, senior director of talent intelligence at CareerBuilder, said that from the second job seekers view a job ad and apply, they are forming an opinion of who the company is as an employer and as a business.

“One bad applicant experience can have a ripple effect, with candidates not only vocalizing their dissatisfaction with how they were treated, but encouraging others not to apply or even buy products from that company,” Licina said. “It’s so critical that your employment brand effectively carries through at every touch point with candidates.”

Companies increasingly go to great lengths to ensure that customer experiences are so good they want to tell their friends all about it.  Maybe now is finally the time to put the same effort into treating those we don’t end up recruiting with the same level of dignity and respect.