It’s cuffing season. The shops are filled with Valentine’s tat – sorry for those of you who “love love”, some of us are still out here swiping left and right.
It’s painful. Transactional, even.
Sure, you’ve heard your pals' success story. Ben who sits on the next table to you in the office just got engaged to his Hinge sweetheart. It happens, we don’t need to be cynical. But 84% of those braving the dating scene have been ghosted. And, I’d be willing to confidently put a claim out there that people are still going to get ghosted throughout this month of love.
But, Amy – you work in Early Talent Recruitment, why are you writing a blog about dating and ghosting on company time?
Fair point, well made. But ghosting can be synonymous with recruitment too.
It’s painful. Transactional. It doesn’t have to be.
What’s the answer? (Disclaimer, I’m not a dating expert. But, I am a recruitment expert.)
Putting yourself on the market
Last year saw an average of 140 applications per graduate job – a 59% year on year increase. But don’t let that gas your ego – similar to when they swipe right on the dating apps, the job isn’t done yet. AI is allowing candidates to apply to more jobs than ever before. They’ve made the first move, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to serve you with a ghost shaped humble pie just yet.
There’s no point in dating a whole bunch of people if they’re not the right fit for you – it’s time consuming, expensive and it’s why the dating scene gets such a bad rep. It’s crowded out there – and everyone wants their pick of the bunch. Show your best self, but keep it authentic. Nobody rates a catfish.
Your dating profile (read, your brand), should attract the right people. Your prompts (read, your messaging) should allow those who are the wrong fit to self select out. Be open, be honest, and be direct – it should set you up for success. What’s the point in setting yourself up for a bucket load of sh*t dating experiences (read, application processes).
Your profile impressed? Let’s show up on the date.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your date is just about you – it’s not. It takes two to tango. They’ve got to impress you, but don’t forget you’ve got to impress them too. In a world of likes and super likes, you can’t be mediocre. The selection process works both ways.
In such a crowded market, what makes you different? Is your recruitment process human, and personable? This adds an essential layer of authenticity to your process and will get the right matches buying into your brand.
Communication is always key.
Like them? Let them know. Not the one? The same goes.
It sounds simple – but, I know, it’s not always that easy. Sometimes the hiring process has multiple steps. You need sign off from another stakeholder, or maybe you just need more candidates in your pool to allow you to benchmark. That’s fine – best to make an informed decision than a rash one. Love isn’t always at first sight.
Communicating in the dating phase is a fine art – are you being overkill or do they think you’re not interested? And the truth is, if they're seeing other people (read, applying elsewhere), you’ve got to keep them engaged.
Ghosting isn’t the one – from either party. Not sure if you’ll be locking in another date just yet? That’s fine, we get it. Just let candidates know the expected timelines we’re working with. Not the vibe for you, and want to let them find their match elsewhere? All good. Send them on their way as soon as that decision is made.
It can be a good experience for all involved, even if it wasn’t meant to be.
Ready to commit?
Class, love that for you. The recruitment process should have been sufficient enough to check you are both the right match for one another.
But it doesn’t stop when they’ve signed the contract. Relationships break down. And, when you’ve found a good one, even the best of us can find ourselves swiping left and right again.
It’s all about expectations versus reality, you’ve got to understand each other and keep communicating for it to work – during your recruitment process and beyond. Only then can you truly grow together.
