Testing Your Application Process

Have you been having trouble getting the right candidates in your door? Maybe you simply haven’t been getting as many applications as you used to. One of the best ways to improve your candidate experience is to test your application process.

There’s a good chance you haven’t examined your application process since you put it in place. But, how long ago was that? If it’s been years or even several months, it might be time to test the candidate application process to make sure it’s as effective and efficient as it can be.

See What Users See

Your ultimate goal when testing your application process is to discover what candidates see. Are you not getting the applications you’d like? Did the number of submissions drop after you changed your application? If so, you may need to tweak your application. Knowing what candidates go through and experience can help you design a better process.

Screen for Content

Don’t be passive when you’re reviewing your application process. Read every word, sentence, and question. Does the word flow make sense in your directions? Are any of the questions misleading? Do the options you give for answers accurate or appropriate? Remember, your candidates are judging you and screening you during this entire process. A spelling mistake or punctuation error could drive some candidates away.

Screen for Accessibility

How do candidates come to your site? Where are candidates mostly applying? Does the entire application process have a flow that makes sense and makes applying easy? If your application takes a candidate 20 minutes to apply, then they probably won’t stick around to finish. While you’re testing your process, see how long it takes, how you can get to the application, and if it flows in a natural way.

Candidate Experience

One thing you need to keep in mind during the process of testing your application is how candidates actually experience the process. During every step from applying to onboarding, candidates are interviewing you and screening you. One misstep in the full process can turn a candidate off. Make your application easy to complete and communicate with candidates throughout the process.

Do you have any tips on testing an application process? What makes an application great for you? Leave us your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below!