The candidate journey refers to the process a candidate undergoes from the moment they become aware of a job opening to applying and (potentially) completing the onboarding process. It is the pathway a candidate follows when discovering a company and considering a potential job, guiding them through several stages until they submit their application.
1. Awareness:
The journey begins with awareness. This is when the candidate first comes across your organisation. This may occur through social media, job search engines such as Google for Jobs, or even out-of-home advertisements. At this point, the candidate isn’t yet interested in the specific job vacancy, but they begin to familiarise themselves with your brand and culture.
2. Consideration:
During the consideration phase, the candidate has formed an initial impression of your organisation and begins to explore further. They visit your careers website, review available positions, read about your company culture, and look at testimonials from other employees. They assess whether your company aligns with their career aspirations.
3. Application:
The application stage occurs when the candidate decides to apply. They click the apply button, complete the necessary details, and submit their CV and cover letter. A well-designed careers website ensures that this process is as straightforward and user-friendly as possible, preventing candidates from dropping off midway.