Two out of three people have turned down jobs because the organisation has failed to impress them at interview according to new research from reed.co.uk published today.
Over 4,400 job hunters were surveyed by reed.co.uk in research that reveals too many employers forget that they need to attract and impress as much as those looking for work. Significantly 85 per cent of those surveyed felt it
was important that organisations made an effort to impress at interview, underlining just how important it is for employers to make a good first impression on job hunters.
Many employers are getting it right. The results show 68 per cent of job hunters have accepted jobs based on the good impression of the organisation they gained at interview.
Some respondents say they had even taken a lower paid job than others on offer because they were particularly impressed at interview. A really good office environment heads the list of specific factors that had impressed recruits so much they had taken a lower paid job, according to 43 per cent. Just behind, 42 per cent had taken a lower salary because they were impressed by the challenge of the role. Liking the sound of the team they would work in has swayed 36 per cent of employees. Almost one in three said they had taken a lower salary because they felt their new boss was someone they would like to work for.
Job seekers top complaints revealed:
Too many organisations are failing to make enough effort at interview. According to respondents, the top ten worst problems they met with were:
Hanging around ? candidates frequently left in reception areas, kitchens and offices for up to three hours without apology. One responded that ’the female interviewer arrived late and carried out the interview wearing sunglasses’.
Bad preparation ? turning up and finding no room booked or
interviewer not there. Interviews have been carried out in busy kitchens, storerooms and in front of the whole office in open plan buildings.
Poor presentation ? scruffy interviewers and offices were a big turn off; one applicant was ’shown the office which had desks propped up by crates’
Unread CV’s ? employers who had not read CV’s frequently infuriated job seekers. One respondent was seen by a ’HR manager who interviewed me whilst reading someone else’s CV’. Whilst another was insulted by an interview panel that didn’t know my name throughout the entire interview, and one of the interviewers drew pictures over my CV.
Inappropriate flirting - interviewees being chatted up, sexual innuendoes, one potential employer ’commented on the size of my breasts’ and another commented The interviewer kept staring at my body and flirting, openly driving the conversation to sex.
Lighting up ? whether it was chain smoking though out the interview or meeting them smoking outside.
Taking calls ? people rushing out to take business calls. One interviewer ’took three personal calls and dictated two letters to his PA during the interview.’ Another sat through an interview where ’ the interviewer was constantly texting people on his mobile’.
Bad language ? bosses who swore or who were rude to staff during the interview
Eating in interviews ? Employers chewing gum or one particular employer who munched on a bacon sandwich whilst running an interview.
Being insulted ? one interviewer ’made reference to my slight overweight and asked if I found my weight a problem?’ and another asked one woman ’if she still had an active womb’.
Dan Ferrandino, Managing Director of reed.co.uk comments: With unemployment hitting a thirty year low demand for skilled workers and talented staff is now at a high. People looking for a new job are prepared to commit a great deal of time and resources in a company, they need to believe that they will get as much out of a job as they are about to put in. You wouldn’t buy a car from a showroom where you were kept waiting,the staff did not treat you with respect or that looked like it had been
hit by a bomb. A job may not be for life but it is far more important than buying a car or anything else. It is only right to expect employers to make the effort to gain your confidence.
It is still true that job hunters need to work hard to impress employers. However by the same token potential employers need to impress if they want to attract and employ the best talent.
Two out of three people turn down jobs because employers get it wrong at interview
.