How to Avoid Application Barriers
Getting someone to view your post is hard. Getting someone to apply to your post is even harder. Do yourself a favor and make it easy for candidates to get in touch with you. A seamless application experience is essential to getting real hits on your post.
Thankfully, major job boards have really streamlined the process. Indeed, for example, has reduced applications to two clicks (two clicks!).
You might be thinking "Two clicks? How do I know I’ll get qualified applicants?" Okay, you might be right, not all of them will work out. But the alternative to too many applicants is not enough.
Try instead to see the "easy apply" button for what it’s worth. By removing some of the barriers to application, it gives you a larger pool of "warm leads" to work with. Being open to all application methods, regardless of platform, will increase your chances of finding "the one."
Put yourself in the shoes of the candidate. They’ve read your job description on their phone (according to Indeed, 65 percent of people apply on mobile), liked it, and decided to give it a shot. Applying was a breeze, and it’s no skin off their back to see where it goes.
The candidate made the first move. The ball is in your court. The notification you just received on your phone is a newfound opportunity to sell someone on the experience you have to offer.
What We Do: At CampHire, we’ve found a happy medium. We add two to three short-answer custom questions that are suggested, not required. This strikes the right balance of making it seamless for applicants while providing us with enough substance to evaluate the candidate.
You might want to sit down for our next tip. Deep breath now. Let’s talk The Camp Application.
When it comes to the camp app, we’ve heard it all:
"Completing our app shows their commitment level."
"We need the information for our records."
"If a candidate can’t complete our application, it’s a telling sign."
These reasons are valid, but let’s be clear. If you require your camp application to be filled out prior to an interview, you are missing out on candidates. Once you stray away from the streamlined process on job boards, you are guaranteed to lose applicants.
Two common (and often costly) mistakes to avoid:
Directing candidates to apply on your camp website instead of using the job board’s process.
Requiring applicants to complete your camp application before ever speaking to them.
The typical camp application is more than 20 steps. It requires responses to multiple open-form questions (essays!), DOB, driver’s license, t-shirt size, and a social security number. Compare that to the two-step Indeed process, and you can see how it could impact application rates.
Don’t get me wrong, we see the value in capturing the critical information in the Camp App prior to a candidate’s start date, but we don’t see the value in requiring it as the first step. You haven’t hooked them yet.
For most candidates, completing the 20-step application is a daunting task and a somewhat invasive process. It doesn’t align with the "fun and inclusive camp environment" they read about in the job description and is excessive compared to the other roles they applied to. In addition, the level of rigor required to complete the application sends a message to candidates that "you have to pass this test in order to join the club." The long-answer questions favor those with advanced writing skills, which could introduce bias into the process. It’s not a good recruiting practice.
CampHire Pro-tip: Try it here instead: 1. We like you! 2. We want you as part of our camp community. 3. Want to get paid? 4. Now fill out the application.
Don’t create unnecessary barriers for your candidates. Your application shouldn’t be a gatekeeper that deters interest and inhibits real human connection. Leverage the quick-apply options and meet candidates where they are.