Slow response time from recruiters is the top reason candidates lose interest in job opportunities and quit applying for a job, reveals the findings of a new study by Sense, which provides AI-driven talent engagement and communication solutions for enterprise recruiting.

Only 19% of candidates report hearing back from recruiters within 24 hours of applying to a job.

Faster response time from recruiters was ranked as the top way for companies to improve the candidate experience, cited by 80% of respondents, as per the study titled  “An Inside Look: What Today’s Candidates Really Want” which polled over 1,000 U.S. based candidates who have applied for a job within the past six months.

Also, 27% of candidates said the job search/application process has become more complicated.

Further, the focus is shifting away from work from home benefits among active job seekers.

When asked what the top two non-negotiables are when considering a new job, salary/benefits (57%) and career advancement/upskilling opportunities (32%) were ranked highest followed by work from home (WFH) opportunities (29%), stronger leadership (18%) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes (16%). An overwhelming majority of candidates (76%) are looking to change careers/industries.

“Candidates have shifted their priorities from the post-Covid, work from home movement, to a renewed focus on better pay and benefits in order to keep pace with today’s rising costs, ” said Anil Dharni, Sense CEO and co-founder.

"In addition to competitive wages, it’s clear that recruiting speed and response times are critical to employers looking to gain an advantage in today’s volatile market and stay ahead by hiring the best talent, quickly. Those companies who are armed with the right technology to instantly engage with candidates and offer a great experience will find themselves ahead of the curve in today’s market.”  

The survey also found differences between genders when it comes to looking for new job opportunities.

As many as 60% of respondents who identify as female said better salary/benefits was a non-negotiable for their next role versus 52% of males saying the same.

Nearly 33% of respondents who identify as female said work-from-home opportunities are non-negotiable for their next role versus 25% of males saying the same (respondents who identify as male were more likely to say strong leadership is non-negotiable than those who identify as female).

Respondents who identify as male were more likely to have removed themselves from consideration due to too many interviews – 20% mentioned this versus 14% of those who identify as female saying the same.