Making Meaningful Connections: Humanizing the Interview Process
You know the saying- people will forget what you said, but they'll never forget how you made them feel? I’m sure this statement is widely agreed upon by the masses but in recruiting, this saying can help to prioritize an exceptional candidate experience throughout the interview process.
The great part about these tips is how they take little to no extra time or effort (which is especially important for recruiters’ eventful schedules). All it takes is a bit of intention and compassion to make candidates feel seen, heard, and valued. Here are 5 ways I humanize the interview process:
1. Take notes about candidate’s personal life
Here's a list of notes I've taken as a recruiter during my first call with candidates:
Celebrating daughter's 5th birthday this weekend
Takes care of ill mother when not at work
Spouse is having major surgery on Friday
Is attending best friend's destination wedding next week
Is harvesting first round of tomatoes from their garden later this week
Daughter’s first soccer game is tomorrow
I don't share this information with hiring managers. But what I DO use it for is to check-in during our next conversation and see how their spouse's recovery is going, how their mother is feeling, how their daughter's birthday went. Candidates realize I'm not just calling to check a box. Our conversations become more genuine and I’m able to connect with another human, not just a candidate.
2. Make sure you’re pronouncing candidates’ names correctly.
“Hi, is this _____? Did I pronounce that correctly?” This is such a simple question and will make candidates feel like you validate their identity.
3. Share pronouns
To make sure candidates feel comfortable, I share my name and pronouns during our first interaction. This opens the dialogue for them to share their preferred pronouns and lets candidates know this is a safe space.
4. Remember their kids’ or pets’ names
This ties back to my first tip, but hones in on building lasting relationships. A simple detail, such as remembering the names of their loved ones, will really tug at candidates' heart strings. Asking how Simba’s first day at doggy day care or how Emma is doing in first grade will go an incredibly long way.
5. Follow up when you say you will
Even if you still don’t have the answers- call to let them know that you’re still waiting but didn’t want to leave them hanging in the meantime. They’ll appreciate being kept in the loop and showing integrity will leave candidates feeling seen and respected.
Taking these steps will have such a huge pay-off. Even if this candidate doesn't work out for the role we initially discussed, they're going to take my call when an even better role comes around, because they'll remember how these small details made them feel.
This is how you make meaningful connections during the interview and hiring process.
Meet the Author
Chelsi Rosen
Talent Consultant, Talent Solutions
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