The job application process across organisations in Australia is currently broken, with employers missing out on top talent because of how they engage with candidates, new research by HR tech company, HiBob has revealed.
Jobseekers have highlighted several problems they’ve experienced when applying for new jobs over the past couple of years, including poor communication from employers, a lack of clarity around salaries, and companies losing applications.
More than one in four (26%) Australians working office jobs have abandoned a job application because the process was so cumbersome. For those that persevered with the process, one-third (32%) say overall communication was poor, and a further third (34%) had to wait weeks for their prospective employer to make a decision after a final interview.
More than one in five (21%) officer workers go as far as to say that their application was lost, while one quarter (25%) had a job offer rescinded before they were due to start. As a result of these issues, one in four (24%) of Australians working office jobs say they’ve turned down a job offer because the application process itself was so bad.
HiBob vice president for Asia Pacific and Japan, Damien Andreasen said, “Clearly, the job application process in Australia right now isn’t perfect. Typically, that comes down to companies not having a well-defined hiring process, appropriate buy-in from hiring managers, or the right tools and systems. Market conditions also haven’t helped, and we’ve seen a huge supply and demand swing back in favour of employers.
“The retail industry has historically experienced high turnover rates, ranking second highest overall in Australia. Peak periods, like Black Friday and Christmas, often see retailers needing to temporarily increase headcount to meet demand.
“But right now, Australian businesses across the board including retailers are struggling to offer a smooth job application process. It’s important to have technology in place to help with workforce planning and not rely on spreadsheets for managing the sheer number of job applications, interviews and onboarding processes for new employees.
“Effective HR tech helps businesses plan ahead for peak and off-peak seasons to effectively hire and onboard employees easily.”