Few job searchers trust the hiring process, according to new study

Hiring for 2023 is unpredictable, to say the least. HR pros know all too well that factors like economic uncertainty and disengagement trends like quiet quitting are impacting the hiring process. 

But a new study from Checkr reveals that recruiters aren’t the only ones that find the hiring landscape hard to navigate – candidates are fed up with the job search, too. 

Negative sentiments about job searching

Checkr’s study, Stay or Go: Americans Share Hopes and Fears About 2023 Job Market, gave an outlook on the 2023 hiring landscape. 

It surveyed 3,500 American workers across industries and job levels. Overall, respondents shared a negative sentiment about the hiring landscape. 

The study found that 77% of respondents said they are or are open to a job search, with 25% currently searching, 21% definitely searching in the near future and 31% open to considering a job search in 2023.

Even though candidates are looking for jobs, it doesn’t mean they have a positive outlook about the hiring landscape. In fact, the study found that:

• 62% would stay or consider staying at a job they’re unhappy with simply because the job search process is too stressful 
• Only 52% are satisfied with the response rate of hiring teams during the job search, and
• Only 33% feel strongly that their applications are definitely seen by hiring managers during the application process.

With candidates clearly fed up with an arduous hiring process, it’s more important than ever for companies to adapt their hiring strategies to attract top talent.

What candidates are – and aren’t – looking for

Here are three things that turn candidates off during the job search, according to the survey – and how you can remedy it:

• The amount of time it takes to complete the entire process. Job searchers are fed up with arduous hiring practices. To attract top talent, streamline your hiring process with tools like automation to make candidates happy and take some of the load off the HR department.
• Poor communication with the hiring team. In line with candidates being turned off by a long hiring process, they also value efficient communication during the process. It’s essential to keep communication lines open and be transparent with candidates throughout the process, from the initial interview to the first day. 
• Lack of pay transparency. Pay transparency is becoming the norm as more states require companies to disclose the salary range in the job description. However, Checkr found that lack of pay transparency is a big turn-off for candidates, with only 19% saying they would apply for a job without knowing the salary range. Additionally, they also found that many applicants (66%) are reluctant or on the fence when it comes to asking about salary in an interview for fear of it making them look like a bad candidate. Being transparent about pay can help bring employers and candidates on the same page and ultimately lead to a faster hiring process.