Why your hiring process might be costing you more than you
think
In today’s job market, a slow or disorganised hiring process
is a lose-lose for both candidates and employers. While careful, considered
decisions are important, if recruitment drags on with poor communication or too
many interview rounds, candidates grow frustrated and businesses risk missing
out on great talent.
Hiring a new employee in the UK typically costs over £6,000.
Inefficient processes push this figure even higher through delays, lost
productivity, and poor hiring decisions.
Impact on candidates
For job seekers, a drawn-out hiring process can be
exhausting. Candidates invest hours into applications and interviews, so long
periods of silence can feel disheartening. Unfortunately, this is all too
common. It’s reported that 45% of
candidates have been “ghosted” (left with no response) by recruiters. These communication
gaps leave candidates anxious and in limbo, and lengthy delays significantly
reduce enthusiasm.
Top talent, especially those with multiple options, won’t
wait around. A 2017 Glassdoor
study found the UK’s average
interview process lasts 27.5 days, yet, 58% of
job seekers lose interest if it takes more than two weeks. Half of UK
professionals have even turned down a job offer because the process was too
slow.
Impact on employers
Employers feel the impact too. When the hiring process is
slow, strong candidates are more likely to drop out or accept offers elsewhere.
Many high-quality applicants are off the market within just 10 days.
In fact, 65% of employers say they’ve lost a preferred candidate because
they didn’t move quickly enough.
The financial cost adds up. Delayed hiring can lead to
stalled projects, rising overtime payments, recruitment agency fees, and
temporary staffing expenses. Productivity drops, team morale suffers, and
business growth slows when key roles remain unfilled.
There’s also reputational risk to consider. A poor hiring
experience doesn’t stay quiet. Many candidates will share negative experiences,
and that word-of-mouth can make future recruitment even harder.
So, how can we turn hiring into a streamlined process?
It’s not about rushing decisions, but about being clear,
structured, and respectful of everyone’s time. An efficient hiring process can
reduce cost, improve outcomes, and strengthen your employer brand. Here are
three ways to make it happen:
- Simplify and streamline: Remove
unnecessary steps and focus on what truly matters. Keep interviews to a
meaningful minimum and set internal deadlines to avoid delays.
- Prioritise
clear communication: If responding to every applicant isn’t feasible,
use automated acknowledgements and clearly outline your timelines in job
posts. Always follow up with candidates who reach the interview stage.
Simple updates can build trust and show professionalism.
- Use
technology effectively: Applicant tracking systems and AI screening
tools are essential for handling high volumes. But they should support,
not replace, thoughtful engagement. Use clear and inclusive language,
communicate openly, and make sure candidates feel like people — not just
profiles.
A hiring process that values people’s time and effort will
always yield better results. You’ll attract stronger candidates, move faster,
and build a reputation as an employer worth working for. Hiring inefficiencies
cost more than money, but with the right approach, they’re easy to fix.
ARU Temps – Afrika Priestley
Resources
The
Cost of Recruitment | Insights | Talent Insight Group
HR
Magazine - Complex hiring processes are losing talent
How Long
Does it Take to Hire? Interview Duration in 25 Countries - Glassdoor US
Measuring
Hiring Efficiency: 7 Metrics to Use in the Hiring Process
5
ways to achieve a more efficient hiring process