Q: How do you think the increased prevalence of internet-based recruitment software is impacting the applicant experience from agencies?

Originally Published in Recruitment Extra August 2006

From the applicant’s experience, is the increasing use of internet-based software a good or a bad thing? Great question!

It’s a commonly known fact that very few applicants experience an overwhelmingly positive interaction with recruiters at all.

In fact, our research shows that the biggest single applicant complaint is the deafening silence they encounter following the submission of a job application. Disheartening at the best of times.

So any change that can bring about a more positive experience for the applicant is, in my opinion, a welcome change.

What we have found at Abacus Recruitment is that existing recruitment software models, particularly those involved in the process of online (internet) applications can be very restrictive, to the detriment of the industry, and in particular to potentially great candidates.

But why? The selection process involved in a candidate’s ability to ‘tick’ the boxes related to their skills and experience often sees those not able to meet this criteria falling short of the system. And the result, recruiters miss out on great candidates and candidates miss out on great jobs.

Moving forward it would be great to see online application models able to filter candidates more effectively without losing potentially great people in the process. This change would present a more positive experience and outcome for both the applicant and the recruiter.