Finding enough quality applicants for an open position in a tight job market can be tough. Filling an open position quickly and with the perfect candidate is the ideal situation, and by improving both the quality and quantity of applicants it can be achieved. There are a few things you can try and do to increase the quantity and quality of the applicants that are submitting interest in your open position as well as pave a path for overall long-term success.
What to Do Right Now
If you’re finding that you aren’t seeing the number of qualified applicants you were hoping for from a recent job posting, there are some things to evaluate before you panic.
- Language. First, look at the language in your job posting. Does it attract the type of candidate you’re looking for? As an example, could using the term “go-getter” attract younger applicants, while “rock star” dissuade women from applying? Don’t use language that can block out an entire subset of people. You may unknowingly be limiting the quantity of your applicants just in the language your job posting uses.
- Who’s seeing it? Where are you posting? Who’s seeing the post? Figuring out where qualified candidates are searching for jobs should be part of your planning process. Once you know where they are, you’ll know where you post needs to show up in order to attract them to apply.
- How complicated is it? Did you know that 60% of applicants will bail on an initial job application process if it’s too long or complicated? While this statistic may not impact the quality of the applicants you’re seeing, it certainly will affect the quantity. If your application takes longer than 10 minutes, or if you are including pre-employment assessments you might be losing a lot of possibly qualified people.
What to Do for the Future
To build your credibility for future open positions and make it even easier to get more qualified applicants, there are some steps you can take now to make it more efficient in the future.
- Brand. Building your brand does more than just increase your customer base. It makes qualified candidates seek out open positions at your organization. Focus on building your brand with human resources in mind, too.
- Network. Networking can help you fill open positions. Cultivating valuable business relationships are investments in the future whether it means bigger deals or better employees.
If you need help finding more quality candidates to fill a position, let us know. MSB Resources has years of experience in matching companies with the perfect fit for their open positions.