One in three graduates have actively switched brands because of a bad recruitment experience

Close to a quarter have turned down a job after being put off by an organisationís behaviour during the recruitment process

ëNot hearing back from a company at allí is graduatesí top complaint

Over a third (34%) of graduate job-seekers have actively switched brand loyalty following a negative experience while applying for a job with that brand, according to research published today by Reed Consulting, a leading provider of HR consultancy and outsourced services.

The research, which surveyed over 2,500 graduate job-seekers across a number of sectors, indicates that employers need to ensure that all aspects of the recruitment process are run effectively in order to avoid any negative impact on their bottom line. It reveals that brand perception is high on the agenda for todayís graduates and that they are not afraid to vote with their feet, as both consumers and potential employees.

Worryingly for employers, the research revealed that close to a quarter (22%) had turned down a job offer because they had been put off by an organisationís behaviour during the recruitment process.

The top five complaints were: ënot hearing back from a company at allí (66%); ëno feedback being givení (60%); ëjob that was advertised changing or no longer being availableí (32%); ëlack of information about the organisation or roleí (31%) and ëlong delays before attending final interview/assessment centreí (22.5%).

Becky Remington, Head of Graduate Services at Reed Consulting, comments:

ìThis is a real wake-up call for organisations who often forget that potential employees can also be existing or potential customers. Employers need to ensure that every part of their recruitment process runs smoothly from attraction all the way through to the final offer stage to protect their businesses performance and employer brand. ’With the current war for talent in graduate recruitment, where candidates often progress quickly to senior levels of the organisation, employers need to treat their applicants as future company directors when designing and delivering their recruitment processes..î

Other findings include:

Brand perception:

58% say their perception of an organisationís brand has changed following first hand experience of applying to work for them; of these 66% said their view is now less favourable

40% said a negative recruitment experience would definitely make them less likely to consumer/purchase a brandís products/services; only 16% said they would definitely not change their brand habits

93% would tell their family and friends if they had a negative experience with a brand when applying for a job

Bad experiences:

The top experiences graduates surveyed said they encountered were:

1. Not hearing back from a company at all - 66%
2. No feedback being given - 60%
3. Job that was advertised changing or no longer being available - 32%
4. Lack of information about the organisation and role - 31%
5. Long delays before attending final interview/assessment centre - 23%
6. Lack of notice for interviews/assessment centres - 17%
7. Incorrect salary information - 13%
8. ìInterviewer getting my name wrongî - 10%

What graduates told us:

ìThey took almost five months to get back to me on the outcome of the online application forms. Although this was the first company I had applied to, by the time I heard back from them I had already accepted an offer elsewhere.î

ìI applied for a marketing assistant position and was invited for an interview for which I had to prepare a presentation. At the start of the interview I was told the position had changed and they were really looking for a marketing manager with management experience. It felt like a complete waste of my time and theirs.î

ìI was interviewed by someone who was not part of the planned interview panel and was unprepared.î

ìI had gone through the second stages of interview with a media company in London and I was told in writing that I hadnít met their requirements. A month later, they wrote to me and said that they liked me and would like to offer me the job. I have rejected their offer because I felt insecure with their uncertainty.î