How many times do you interview a job applicant before making an offer? A new survey from The Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Express Employment Professionals says Canadian hiring decision-makers conduct an average of three interviews, but jobseekers say four is ideal.
Benefits of Multiple Interviews
The value of conducting multiple interviews shouldn’t be understated. Decision-makers say meeting more than once allows them to better evaluate an applicant’s personality (50%) and skills (49%), ask follow-up questions (44%), and ensure the candidate is a good fit for the company’s culture (41%). Jobseekers say participating in multiple interviews provides the opportunity to ask follow-up questions (56%), gather information on the position (55%), ensure the company’s culture is a good fit for them (48%), elaborate on their skills and abilities (45%), and meet multiple people at the company (43%).
Drawbacks of a Long Process
However, drawing out the interview process has its downfalls. According to decision-makers, drawbacks include taking additional time (50%), candidates accepting other offers (45%), and drawing out the time until a position can be filled (34%). Jobseekers say the negatives are taking additional time (53%), additional costs, such as travel expenses and time away from their other job or responsibilities (47%), and drawing out the time until they can find a job (44%). These setbacks can cause 39% of jobseekers to accept offers elsewhere.
While waiting to hear back from companies, in an effort to get face-to-face time or check the status of their application, some job candidates may choose to visit a company’s physical location unannounced. These applicants are described positively by 71% of hiring decision-makers who say they are motivated (47%), take initiative (46%), and are driven (39%).
Optimize the Process
If your interview process doesn’t match candidates’ needs, it may be time to optimize it. Ensure the job application collects critical information upfront, provide ample opportunity for jobseekers to get their questions answered, and consider including virtual interviews in the process. While 54% of decision-makers conduct interviews in person, 37% utilize a combination of in-person and virtual meetings.
Learn more about hiring trends for the second half of 2023 in the Job Insights Report at ExpressPros.com/JobInsights-Canada.
To provide accurate and timely employment forecasts for business leaders, Express Employment Professionals commissions an ongoing Job Insights survey to track employment and hiring trends across a wide range of industries. The survey was conducted in Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express among 507 hiring decision-makers from June 8 to 22, 2023, and 507 jobseekers from June 13 to 26, 2023.
