For the second article of our three-part series on building a winning employer branding strategy, we’re zooming in on the importance of transparency in your recruiting strategy. There’s no need for a “gotcha” moment in a job interview. Unlike reality TV shows or a pop quiz, finding the right fit for a role isn’t about catching candidates off guard. When you interview 10 candidates for a position but only make an offer to one, you’re not just filling a position. You’re creating nine potential brand ambassadors, or critics. Making sure every interview counts and creating a positive experience for them could help your brand reputation.
To better understand that idea, let’s take a deeper dive into interview transparency and the employer branding tools you can use to achieve it.
Pre-interview transparency
Providing applicants with an overview of the hiring process, a checklist for interviewing, and pre-interview questions can help you find better candidates and improve your employer branding. Fortunately, Glassdoor offers tools to help you identify your recruiting wins, as well as opportunities for improvement. The “@Mention” and “Interviews” tabs are smart places to start.
The @Mentions tab aggregates applicants’ questions about the process and feedback from your company’s employees. While it’s best practice that your recruiters and hiring managers send your interview prep collateral directly to candidates, it doesn’t hurt to keep a copy on this page.
The Interviews tab gives companies an unfiltered take on how the interview process went and an opportunity to respond to praise or criticism.
Employer branding strategy: Engage, engage, engage
Candidates can review and rate their interviewing experience on Glassdoor and Indeed, even if they weren’t extended an offer. This feature is meant to provide future candidates with a better understanding of what they can expect in their interviews, the level of difficulty others have had, and example questions they might expect. These ratings directly influence your brand as an employer, so make sure you give them the time and attention they deserve.
Using transparency to build connection
Any opportunity to be transparent about the hiring process is important in connecting with candidates. No one likes surprises, so a great employer branding practice is to be forthcoming and open about what candidates can expect so that they can adequately prepare for the interview. Open communication also helps applicants set proper expectations, whether it’s interview style or timelines, so your brand can lead with compassion and transparency out of the gate.
Interviewing for a job is stressful. Sharing a clear summary of your interview process and questions allows job seekers to focus on sharing their skills and background instead of panicking over what’s coming next. With that added confidence, they can spend their time dazzling you, and you can make a better decision about which candidate is the right fit.
Show your candidates and prospects you care by equipping them with the details they need to navigate your company’s interview process.