You know that feeling when you’re about to hire someone, and then the application process takes forever? Well, it’s time to learn how to streamline your business application process.
Without optimizations for your business processes, you are left to tediously limited and vulnerable procedures. Optimizing your business process not only increases revenue in the long term, but it protects you from the faults of the present.
In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to make sure everyone who wants a job with your company has an easy time getting one.
We’ll also talk about what information is crucial for your hiring process, so keep reading.
What Makes A Business Application Process Good
Business application processes are good when they’re quick and easy to navigate. They must also give employees a clear understanding of what the company is looking for.
They should be tailored specifically to your needs. This means that you’ll need to figure out if it’s worth investing in technology or hiring an additional staff member. You do this so that you can handle applications more efficiently.
Your business also has different goals than other businesses do. Some want their process as short and sweet as possible, while others may prioritize diversity over speed. That’s why it pays off to take a look at your own expectations before deciding how long each phase will last from now on.
The most important thing about streamlining any application process is not cutting corners. Never cut corners during certain parts of the screening process. For example, many people may think that you can skip the interview if they liked your job listing and resume.
That’s not true! Interviews are one of the most important parts of any process. They give both parties a chance to get to know each other before signing on for anything long-term.
Furthermore, a lot of companies today rely on tech to make their processes more efficient. It would help if you looked into which automated features benefit the most from technology. For instance, an applicant tracking system or digital application management software.
But, you have to be careful when using this kind of tool because it’s not always reliable and can only do so much for your business.
Detail Your Current Application Process
The first step to streamlining your business application process is to detail your current one. This is done by figuring out the different phases of your hiring process and how long it takes to get through each one.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to be honest about this. This is because some people might not want a job with you if they know what kind of waiting game they can expect.
The first phase is when someone submits their application.
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This lasts for about 15 minutes from start to finish.
After that comes the screening stage, where we look at resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn pages, and other materials submitted by applicants, which usually last for 30 minutes per applicant or even less time if somebody has been previously screened elsewhere.
This second phase also includes interviews and reference checks. This takes up another hour, on average, but could go as long as three hours.
The final phase is when we make our hiring decision and notify the applicant about it. This takes up another 15 to 30 minutes on average.
Furthermore, you may want to include a resume submission and screening phase before the applicant even gets to your application. This is something that you’ll need to figure out based on what kind of work environment you’re looking for, how much staff time this would require, or whether it’s worth investing in technology upfront.
It might also be beneficial if we mention that some companies use an automated interviewing process – which means they have pre-set questions and answers available depending on certain criteria, like education level or years of experience.
If true diversity isn’t important, then having an interview like this can get applicants through quicker than doing one by phone or in-person… but these interviews usually don’t give people enough information about job expectations, so make sure not to skip over any steps!
Simplify the Process
Next, you want to simplify the process as much as possible. This means streamlining the application process by making it as short and easy to follow as possible.
The first step is to set clear expectations for how long each phase will last. This way, applicants know what they can expect before starting at any given stage of their hiring process. Thus, making them more likely to stay with you throughout the entire thing!
One way one could do this would be through a timeline or even using checklists at certain points. This is so that everything goes smoothly from beginning to end.
One example might have an applicant fill out their resume ahead of time. After, they would send it over electronically once all other materials are submitted online. Now we don’t have to spend half our day reading paper resumes when there’s a much easier way to go about it.
The next thing you want to do is look at how much staff time each phase of the process takes up. You also have to see if there are any steps that one could cut out to save some people’s precious hours!
If somebody has a lot of experience, they might not need an interview or reference check. Thus, consider lowering their importance during the screening stage. Staffing software can help you optimize these principles.
Another example would be sending digital applications. You should do this instead of paper ones that can take up less space on your desk.
You must let applicants submit materials as soon as they’re ready. Do this instead of waiting for someone else who may never show up again.
You’ll also have access to all these documents whenever you need them. We don’t recommend taking this step with sensitive documents. These include tax returns or health records.
Finally, you may want to use an automated interviewing process for applicants who don’t meet certain requirements. For example, education level or years of experience. This is so that it gets them through the application and screening phases more quickly than a traditional interview would!
Enhance Your Application Listings
After that, you will want to enhance your application listings on all available sources.
First, you want to make sure that your job postings are as easy and accessible as possible. You can do this by adding a salary range upfront so people who might not be qualified yet know whether or not they’re wasting their time in the first place.
You can also include what’s expected of employees (or how many hours they work). Hence, applicants have an idea of what it’ll really be like before applying for any given position. This is true especially if specific skills are required for the said position that some candidates might not have.
If you’d rather save space on your website, then consider using other sources such as LinkedIn company pages, Indeed career portals, or even Google ads with keyword searches that are relevant to the position you’re looking for.
Next, take a look at what your competition is doing and see if there’s anything that one could change about their job listings (or yours) to make them more appealing or useable. One of these changes would involve adding video interviews so applicants can get a feel for who they’ll be working with before making any long-term commitments!
You might also want to include other sources like FaceTime calls, which allow candidates from anywhere – as long as they have access to the internet – so you don’t need employees on-site all day, every day, wasting valuable time when someone else could do just as good a job remotely.
In essence, transparency is most important when it comes to the hiring process because that’s what’ll keep your company growing and prospering!
Optimize for All Devices
Another thing you want to do is optimize all of your content and applications for all devices, mobile included.
One thing you can do is optimize the design of your website for mobile devices. This will make it easier to navigate when people are on their phones or tablets. This type of device usage has increased drastically in recent years.
Another idea would be to have a responsive email template that adapts, depending on what device someone uses, regardless if they’re using an Android, Windows phone, or iPhone.
If you want to take things one step further, then add Google Translate so candidates from all around the world can apply, no matter where they live! You may also want to invest time and resources into video interviews since many countries might not speak English as a primary language. Hearing how candidates answer questions instead of reading them could help with cultural and language barriers.
Finally, make sure you’re utilizing all the resources available to your company. This is so that people can apply in a way that’s most convenient for them. Not just for potential employees at their desks with laptops or desktops!
You may want to invest time developing an app since many companies are doing this these days. Consider things like using chatbots instead of hiring someone else who’ll be taking up more space on the payroll.
You could even expand further by enabling video interviews. You can allow managers from anywhere to conduct interviews together via Skype or other platforms. This will help them go without lengthy screening processes before deciding whether or not the applicant is qualified.
Improve Communication Channels
Finally, it would help if you improved all of your accessible communication channels.
If you have a website that’s not mobile-friendly, then you may want to consider changing the design or investing in an app. This is so people can access your company no matter where they are.
You will also save time and resources if you find ways to better communicate with potential employees. For example, through video interviews. This might be more effective than just reading what someone says, but it doesn’t hurt to try both!
Another thing is utilizing multiple communication channels for more convenience. Whether this means adding a chatbot (or having one on standby) or having two lines of phone numbers available instead of just one.
As long as there’s accessibility from all angles and everyone has equal opportunity, things will go smoother overall because who wants their business to be held back?
Communication is critical for a company’s success. With the right adjustments, you should be able to get more applicants in less time. Learn to communicate with potential employees, and you will reap the benefits greatly.
Applications Made Easy
In conclusion, there are some ways for your business to streamline the application process for new employees. You can invest time and resources in video interviews. These might be more effective than just reading what someone says, but it doesn’t hurt to try both!
As long as you’re utilizing all the resources available to your company so that people can apply in a way that’s most convenient for them – not just potential employees at their desks with laptops or desktops – then things will go smoother overall. Because who wants their business to be held back?
If you’re interested in learning more about improving your business, check out some of our related articles on the sidebar.
