The Importance of Candidate Relationship Management in the Recruiting Process
This blog discusses how maintaining strong relationships with candidates throughout the recruiting funnel can help fill jobs faster and improve the candidate experience.
Maintaining strong relationships with candidates is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of the recruiting process. While filling open roles as quickly as possible is a top priority, many companies fail to consider the long term benefits that come from nurturing ongoing connections with candidates — even those who may not be the right fit for the current job. This is where an intentional approach to Candidate Relationship Management(CRM) can make a big difference.
CRM refers to systematically tracking all interactions with candidates, from initial application through post-hire follow up, and using that data to personalize future communications. The goal is to move candidates through the funnel at their own pace while continuously building trust and goodwill. Done right, CRM streamlines recruiting workflows and creates an exemplary experience that positions an organization as an employer of choice.
Candidates are increasingly selective
In today’s tight labor market, candidates have their pick of opportunities. They expect employers to treat them with respect, keep them informed in a timely manner, and ultimately make the hiring process as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Failing to maintain basic standards of communication and transparency risks losing out on top talent to competitors who excel at CRM.
According to a 2019 survey from CareerBuilder, 75% of job seekers say they are more likely to re-apply to a company in the future if their past application was quickly acknowledged. Additionally, 69% expect to hear back from a company regarding the status of their application within 2 weeks.
According to a 2019 survey from CareerBuilder, 75% of job seekers say they are more likely to re-apply to a company in the future if their past application was quickly acknowledged.
When these expectations aren’t met, candidates quickly look elsewhere. The CareerBuilder survey found that over 70% of candidates will remove a company from consideration for future roles if they feel the recruiting process was disorganized or took too long. With people changing jobs more frequently than ever before, upholding positive candidate relationships is essential for long term recruiting success.
CRM improves time-to-hire
By centering their recruiting strategy around ongoing relationships rather than one-off transactions, forward-thinking companies see dramatic reductions in time-to-fill open positions. Keeping candidates engaged and informed about new opportunities helps the hiring process move much more quickly when the right fit emerges.
For example, a 2020 study by Talent Board found that companies who excelled at candidate experience were able to reduce their average time-to-hire by over 15 days compared to competitors. Part of this advantage was driven by strong CRM practices that accelerated hiring for previous applicants.
Similarly, when a CRM software company implemented a new candidate portal and tracked over 15,000 job applications, they found time-to-hire decreased by 17% on average. Candidates who had previously interviewed or applied also accepted offers 14% faster than new applicants. Nurturing an ongoing pipeline clearly paid major dividends.
Additionally, 69% expect to hear back from a company regarding the status of their application within 2 weeks.
Data-driven insights optimize future recruiting
Advanced CRM systems go beyond basic tracking to provide powerful data and analytics that drive continuous improvement. Recruiters gain clarity into what stages of the process candidates tend to drop off, how long it takes to move candidates from one step to the next, and which communication channels are most effective.
According to LinkedIn’s 2020 Global Talent Trends report, leading companies are increasingly investing in this type of talent analytics technology. Over 70% of firms cited better use of data analytics as a top priority for recruiting.
This intelligence enables recruiting teams to identify and remedy inefficiencies. They can adjust strategies to better suit candidate preferences and needs. Over time, recruitment becomes a finely tuned machine that maximizes hiring quality outcomes while meeting tight budgets and deadlines. The right CRM platform eliminates waste and optimizes every step of the process.
In today’s competitive talent landscape, strong candidate relationships are among a company’s greatest recruiting assets. A thoughtful approach to CRM promotes faster hiring, higher satisfaction rates, and strategic recruiting insights to stay ahead of evolving market demands. It ensures every candidate interaction adds long term value, establishing a reputation that attracts the ideal people to support sustainable growth.
The CareerBuilder survey found that over 70% of candidates will remove a company from consideration for future roles if they feel the recruiting process was disorganized or took too long.
