How you can help candidates figure out if they're the right fit for you

Prospective candidates are doing reference checks on you. They’re reaching out to your current and former employees in their network to get a first-hand account of what your company culture is like. 

They’re also checking out the people they’d be working with on LinkedIn and Twitter to learn about their backgrounds and what they’re interested in. And they pay a lot of attention to what former employees are saying about management on Glassdoor. 

Your socials are a window into your culture.

It’s a big tick from candidates when your company showcases its people and culture on your social media. Many respondents believe what you share on your socials is a good way to tell if your culture aligns with what they’re seeking in a workplace. 

Using your words wisely.

When reading job descriptions, candidates say that the language used gives a lot away. They said many job descriptions sound mechanical, so when they read one that has a human voice that resonates with them, they know they’re onto a good thing. 

Your vision, mission & purpose.

Candidates want to see a clear picture of what your company stands for and how that comes to life in everything you do. They want to feel a shared purpose and be able to see the kind of impact and contribution they could make towards your goals.

“I ask myself: do I believe in the vision and mission of the company? If I agree with it and am passionate about it, then I make sure I make that clear upfront when I apply.”

What’s missing

What a typical day looks like.

They’ve read about what you’re looking for, the skills required and what the responsibilities of the role are. Now they want to know what an average day at work looks like. This helps clarify what the role entails, who and how much they’re interacting with others, and what the style of management is.

How they'll be supported.

Respondents feel the right support is key to succeeding in a role, but the level of support candidates are looking for differs from one to another. Letting them know how autonomous or collaborative their role will be, and what level of input their manager will have with their work helps candidates determine if they’ll have the support they need to flourish. 

“Company goals are important to list, but I’m more interested in how individuals and teams are supported in achieving those goals.”

Getting to know the team.

Many respondents said that they’d like to be able to get a better feel for the team dynamic. Knowing who they’ll be interacting with helps them figure out if they’ll be a good fit for the team. An informal coffee catch up with some of the people they’d be working with goes a long way.

They’re not just interested in the immediate team they’re working with, but also how the role and their team connects with others.

Want to create a job description that will attract the right talent? Check out our JD template library‍