A great candidate experience.

I just had a candidate call to tell me about her experience during an interview.  How highly she spoke of the people interviewing her caught my attention.  She talked for several minutes about how she could tell they were passionate about their business.  She then went through a list of perks the company offers and several reasons someone would want to work there. 

There will be more interviews, and I hope te candidate experience moves forward.  However, one thing is sure: she will speak highly of the company and its people regardless of their decision.  This means this company gets it.

Interviewing candidates isn’t just about judging and deciding if they are good enough.  It is a chance to connect, learn, and market your company.  If every candidate feels the same, there will be many positive conversations about this company.

These are the types of companies that can attract talent.  They certainly make my job easier.  When candidates come out of interviews more excited than when they went in, it speaks highly of the company and the hiring team.

I predict we will transition into a more candidate-driven market in 2025. The companies that treat candidates like this one treated our candidate will win the battle for talent.

Here are six ways that you can impress candidates during an interview and provide a great candidate experience.

1. Showcase Company Culture

• Highlight core values: Talk about the company’s mission, vision, and values. Top candidates want to align with an organization’s purpose.
• Discuss workplace culture: Provide concrete examples of the culture (e.g., teamwork, flexibility, diversity initiatives, inclusion).
• Share stories: Tell stories highlighting the company’s character, especially around employee success, community impact, and innovation.

2. Highlight Growth Opportunities for a great candidate experience

• Emphasize career development: Showcase clear paths for advancement and learning opportunities (e.g., mentorship programs, leadership development, certifications).
• Internal promotions: Mention how often you promote from within and provide examples of employees who have grown with the company.
• Training programs: Talk about any continuing education, workshops, or personal development benefits offered.

3. Discuss Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salaries: Be transparent about your compensation structure and how it compares with industry standards. This will help your candidate avoid asking uncomfortable questions and enhance the candidate experience.
• Non-salary benefits: Highlight benefits such as health coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible work arrangements, and wellness programs.
• Perks: Discuss additional perks like remote work options, gym memberships, or team retreats that set your company apart.

4. Showcase Company Stability and Success for a terrific candidate experience

• Share achievements: Mention recent milestones, critical successes, or awards reinforcing the company’s stability and market position.
• Industry leadership: Promote the company as a leader or innovator within your sector by discussing projects, cutting-edge work, or collaborations.
• Growth trajectory: Share growth plans, financial health, or expansion initiatives to show confidence in the company’s future.

5. Create a Welcoming Interview Experience for a great candidate experience

• Build rapport: Make the interview a two-way conversation rather than an interrogation. Be personable, open, and interested in the candidate’s values and aspirations.
• Allow for questions: Encourage candidates to ask questions and provide meaningful, transparent answers to show your openness.
• Show the team: Where possible, introduce the candidate to other team members or give them a feel for the people they’d work with.

6. Personalize Approach will enhance the candidate experience

• Tailor the message: Understand what’s important to the candidate and tailor the company’s strengths to those areas (e.g., if the candidate values flexibility, focus on work-life balance).
• Shared vision: Show how the candidate’s career goals align with the company’s vision and future.

If you are a candidate, check this blog before your next interview: Career Progression Matters.

Match Point Recruiting is a boutique consumer goods executive search firm in Bentonville, AR

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