How to Improve the Candidate Experience: 6 Expert-Backed Tips

Hiring isn’t just about filling roles — it’s about building relationships. Every interaction a candidate has with your company shapes their perception, influencing your overall employer brand.  

A positive candidate experience makes job seekers eager to apply, expanding your talent pool and increasing your chances of finding the perfect fit. Meanwhile, a negative experience can send talent running straight to your competitors, damaging your brand reputation and even your bottom line.  

Job seekers have high expectations for your hiring process. If your application is clunky, communication is inconsistent, or your interview process feels impersonal, you risk losing great candidates.  

Here are six expert-backed strategies to improve the candidate experience, making every step feel personal, engaging, and seamless.  

1. Create a Standout Career Site 

Your career site is often a candidate’s first stop — and first impressions matter. Balance showcasing your company’s personality with providing clear information about your organization and open roles.  

This is your chance to highlight your company’s values, culture, and what makes it a great place to work. Consider giving candidates a look at day-to-day operations by featuring photos and videos of your teams in action.  

How to build an attention-grabbing career site:  

• Make it user-friendly and easy to navigate  

• Highlight employee experiences and success stories 

• Write clear, compelling job descriptions (ditch the jargon!) 

• Provide simple, straightforward application instructions  

An engaging, informative career site will make candidates more likely to see themselves thriving at your company. 

2. Simplify Your Application Process 

Ninety-two percent of candidates never click ‘submit’ after viewing an application. Why? Lengthy, time-intensive, and complex applications discourage candidates from completing them.  

How to boost your submission rate:  

• Cut out unnecessary fields and duplicate questions  

• Let candidates autofill using LinkedIn instead of manual form-filling  

• Provide a clear timeline on what happens after they apply  

A quick, intuitive application process improves completion rates and leaves candidates with a positive impression of your brand. 

3. Communicate Clearly and Often 

As a candidate, there’s nothing more frustrating than radio silence. Lack of communication can leave job seekers feeling ignored or undervalued, which can harm your reputation as an employer.  

Whether candidates are progressing to the next stage or not, they appreciate clarity. Transparency and regular updates keep them engaged and invested in your hiring process, while also supporting your employer brand.  

How to improve communication: 

• Acknowledge applications immediately with an automated but personalized message 

• Provide updates on next steps and expected timelines 

• Offer constructive feedback when possible (even to those who don’t get the job) 

Candidates who feel valued and respected — even if they don’t land the role — are more likely to apply again in the future or recommend your company to others. 

4. Use Consistent Hiring Practices 

A positive candidate experience isn’t just about efficiency — it’s also about fairness. A structured, unbiased hiring process helps ensure every candidate gets a fair shot. 

Unstructured interviews, inconsistent evaluation methods, or lack of clear criteria can introduce bias and make hiring decisions less effective. Instead, ensure your hiring process is objective, inclusive, and data driven. 

How to reduce bias:  

• Use standardized interview questions and evaluation criteria 

• Train hiring managers on structured, inclusive interviewing  

• Leverage data-driven assessment tools to focus on skills and fit  

By making sure every candidate feels evaluated fairly, you build trust and reinforce your company’s commitment to equitable hiring. 

5. Continuously Improve Your Processes 

Your candidate experience directly impacts your reputation. Gathering feedback helps refine your hiring process and strengthen your employer brand.  

Every touchpoint reflects who you are, and candidates aren’t shy about sharing experiences — both good and bad. A poor experience can deter future applicants, while a positive one can turn candidates into brand advocates.  

How to improve your hiring process: 

• Send post-interview surveys to candidates for honest feedback 

• Monitor employer review sites for trends in candidate sentiment  

• Make adjustments based on feedback to enhance future experiences 

Companies with the best candidate experience understand that hiring isn’t just about filling roles — it’s about creating meaningful interactions that leave a lasting impression. 

Start Winning Talent Today  

Now it’s your turn. Use these expert-backed strategies to optimize your candidate journey, making it more engaging, streamlined, and personalized. You’ll outperform the competition and build a winning team. 

But you don’t have to do it alone. Jobvite’s talent acquisition software automates tedious admin tasks, giving recruiting teams more time to focus on creating top-notch candidate experiences. Request a demo to learn more about our world-class technology.