Sure Fire Ways To Turn Applicants Off

By Rick Dacri, Dacri & Associates

Are you spending lots of time and money recruiting for the right candidates only to be disappointed? Are you finding that few people are applying and that those that do are not even meeting your minimum standards? Are there no candidates out there, or are you just turning the applicants off?

While there are fewer and fewer great candidates, you can still be successful with your recruitment efforts as long as you don’t drive the applicants away. Here are five guaranteed turn offs:

1. Be like everyone else – continue recruiting in the same way as everyone else. Make sure your ads look like all the other ads.

Successful recruiters create a compelling and unique perception of their organization and then communicate it to their target candidates. They show how they’re different and better than the other organizations. Candidates have choices—give them a reason to make you their choice. If you look like everyone else, why will they apply?

2. Have a horrible reputation- if you have a reputation for being a lousy place to work, candidates will run from you faster than a “Dice-K” fast ball. If your reputation is bad, clean it up. If you don’t know what it is, find out. And if it is good, candidates will flock to you.

3. Drop your line where there are no fish – continue to search for candidates in the same fashion as you did 5 or 10 years ago. Place ads in the paper and wait…and wait…and wait some more. Then place another ad.

Successful recruiters develop different and unique strategies for different positions. You always need to know where the candidates “hang out” and then you need to go after them with lightening speed. And remember, your best candidates are currently employed, so they’re probably not reading the “Help Wanted” ads.

4. Treat applicants like…applicants – Respond slowly to their resume. Take your time scheduling an interview. Keep them waiting in the lobby before you see them. Be unprepared for the interview. And the ultimate turn off, take calls and read your email during the interview.

Successful recruiters treat all applicants like they’re guests in their home—it pays real dividends.

5. Make the interview a one way event – be insincere, secretive and distant. Ask the right questions, but forget about addressing their inquiries and never consider promoting your firm. Make it clear that they need you more than you need them and then wonder why you never hear from them again.

Successful recruiters always give candidates a reason to say “yes.” If you’re not doing this, then don’t be surprised when they don’t.

Stop turning off candidates. Communicate to them (and your employees) what your organization stands for and why you’re a great place to work. Let them know what it feels like to work for your organization. Motivate your target candidates to choose you as their new employer. By promoting your positives, you’ll find that the word on the street will spread quickly. It won’t be long after that when you’ll be able to attract the best and most talented candidates. Like electricity, you can turn it on or off. It’s your choice.

Rick Dacri is an organizational development consultant, coach and featured speaker at regional and national conferences. Since 1995 his firm, Dacri & Associates has focused on improving the performance of individuals and organizations. Rick can be reached at 1-800-892-9828, or rick@dacri.com