MATAWAN, N.J., Oct. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iCIMS, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based talent acquisition solutions, released a new report today that uncovers how consumer technology trends are shaping job seekers’ expectations of the career search and application process.
In the report, The Modern Job Seeker, iCIMS reveals the trends and drivers behind what makes a great candidate experience and the impact online employee reviews, social media, employee referrals and mobile technology have on recruiting efforts.
To compile the report, iCIMS conducted a survey among 500 full-time employed U.S. adults, ages 18+ and provided additional commentary from iCIMS customers, Gold’s Gym, Trilogy Health Services, and iCIMS partner, rGlassdoor.
“The employee voice is an essential piece of a company’s employer brand,” said CHRO at Glassdoor, Carmel Gavin. “Smart companies are actively empowering their people to share authentic workplace feedback because this kind of information helps candidates make informed decisions about their next job. Employers that take the time to read employee reviews are in a better position to highlight their positive attributes with a candidate who is on the fence, and course correct negative attributes before things go awry.”
Key findings from the report include:
How Job Seekers are Researching Companies Before Applying
- The content that is most important to job seekers when researching a potential company to work for include employer reviews (37 percent), textual content on a company website (24 percent) and company publications or products (24 percent).
- Seventy percent of workers have searched for a new job while at work.
- Nearly 1 in 3 workers have declined a job offer primarily because the company had negative online employer reviews.
The Importance of Social Media and Peer Referrals
- Social media is more than just a millennial trend. Ninety-four percent of all working Americans surveyed would visit a company’s social media page when searching for a job.
- The top social media apps for job searching include LinkedIn (56 percent), Facebook (54 percent) and Glassdoor (34 percent).
- Eighty-six percent of workers expect to be happier at a job they were referred for than one they were not referred for.
- Sixty percent of employers believe referrals bring in candidates that are a better fit for the company.
The Technology Capabilities Job Seekers Expect
- Job seekers expect the same ease of use and functionality they see in apps and websites they use every day when searching and applying for a job. When searching for a job, people want to visit job search sites that allow them to: Instantly mark jobs of interest (54 percent); receive recommendations based on job preferences and resume (53 percent); and input salary requirements and enable employers to reach out directly (53 percent).
- Sixty-six percent of working Americans, including 82 percent of millennials, expect every company to have a mobile-friendly career site and job application process.
- The majority of working Americans (85 percent) believe the popularity of mobile job search applications means they would have to act quicker than ever to be considered for a position.
“Recruiting has a direct impact on a company’s corporate brand and revenue,” said Susan Vitale, chief marketing officer at iCIMS. “Candidates who have a negative recruitment experience are less likely to purchase products from the hiring company and are more likely to share negative feedback with their network. Without the right hires found on pace with the business needs, corporate performance is at risk.”
“Recruiting is too important to overall business performance to tackle without the right technology in place, not to mention that organizations risk turning off potential applicants, hindering their candidate pipeline,” Vitale explained. “Recruiting is no longer just a concern for the HR department; it needs to be top of mind for senior executives in all areas of the business.”
To view the full report, please visit iCIMS Hiring Insights.
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