Create a User-Friendly Job Application Process in Five Simple Steps

from Business Magazine June 2023

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Businesses looking for talented individuals are often in a bind when putting together job application systems. An excellent job application process should encompass the applicant’s experience and education but also delve into areas of their personality.

The business might inadvertently drive away top talent if the application procedure continually asks them to prove themselves. Thus, a business needs to be innovative when it comes to crafting a job application process that collects pertinent information but doesn’t make the applicant feel like they’re being interrogated.

Here are ways that businesses can develop a functional job application process that won’t chase away top talent.

1. Remove Barriers to Entry. Create a user-friendly process by ensuring the application doesn’t require a login and password. Forcing applicants to create an account with a login and password deters them and creates a barrier. Applicants also want a quick process to get their information submitted. Ensuring applications are accessible and user-friendly will improve your response rate, thus increasing your candidate pool.

2. Get Feedback from Current Employees. Have a select group of current employees in various positions and departments go through your job application process and provide feedback. If they find it lengthy and complicated, external applicants will too, and this will limit your applicant flow.

3. Automate the Majority of the Process. Do people still do applications? Automate the majority of your application process by having the essential information pulled from a resume, and only ask necessary questions. By taking steps to ensure that the process is simple, fast, and easy to do, companies can make it easier for the candidate to put their foot in the door.

4. Share Accurate Job Portrayals. Explain what you will provide the applicant, the projects they will work on, key stakeholders they will work with, what a candidate should love doing and a realistic portrait about your company. This will garner excitement and ensure a match.

5. Have Fewer Clicks. So many websites require candidates to click through four or five different pages to get to a lengthy application form. Make it easy for candidates to upload their resume quickly to see an increase in the number and quality of applicants.

Rose Bruno, PHR, SHRM-CP, is an HR consultant at the Manufacturer & Business Association. Contact her at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or rbruno@mbausa.org.