What if the biggest barrier to hiring your dream team isn’t the talent pool but how you talk to them? Westray’s latest poll reveals the real deal-breakers in recruitment.
Westray’s recent poll asked candidates what would make them most likely to withdraw from a recruitment process. The results were eye-opening:
This data highlights that the vast majority of candidate dropouts are linked to preventable communication issues and process inefficiencies. In a market where top talent is in high demand, a transparent and engaging recruitment process is not just a nice-to-have, it’s essential for attracting and retaining the best candidates.
Hiring managers can start by reflecting on three important questions. Firstly, are we truly listening to our candidates? Candidates want to feel heard and respected, not just processed. Second, how quickly are we responding at each stage of the process? In a candidate driven market, delays can mean losing out to competitors. Finally, are our job descriptions and process steps clear and honest? Ambiguity breeds frustration and can cause even the most promising candidates to walk away.
There are three practical actions hiring managers should prioritise. First, clear and consistent communication is vital. Structured timelines for responses and personalised messages help candidates feel informed and valued. Second, streamlining and automating parts of the process can make a huge difference. Using recruitment software to handle reminders and status updates reduces delays and frees up your team to focus on building relationships. Finally, clarifying job requirements and process steps is essential. Reviewing and refining job descriptions with input from current employees and past candidates ensures expectations are clear from the outset, much like a well-placed signpost guiding travellers to their destination.
There are also pitfalls to avoid. Unstructured or inconsistent communication, such as sending mixed messages or failing to keep candidates updated, can quickly erode trust. Slow or non-existent responses leave candidates in limbo and can prompt them to look elsewhere. Vague or misleading job descriptions can attract the wrong candidates or frustrate the right ones. To steer clear of these issues ensure you develop communication templates, communicate response time targets and regularly review job descriptions for clarity and accuracy.
At Westray Recruitment Group, we see firsthand how communication can make or break the hiring process. Our poll results are a wake-up call: candidates are not just looking for a job, they’re looking for respect and clarity. Every where every interaction is a reflection of your employer brand, investing in better communication, faster responses, and clearer expectations isn’t just good practice, it’s a competitive advantage.
Like a bridge connecting two shores, your recruitment process should be sturdy, well-marked, and reliable. When you build that bridge with care, you don’t just attract talent you welcome them to a journey they’ll want to complete with you.
Let’s not lose great candidates to avoidable mistakes. Instead, let’s make every step of the process a reason for them to stay.
Ready to transform your recruitment process and secure top talent? Contact Westray Recruitment Group today:
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