Fix these common recruiting bottlenecks

Great candidates are slipping through your fingers, and you might not even realize why. After two decades in recruiting, I’ve seen the same bottlenecks sink promising hires time and time again. Here are the most damaging ones – and how to fix them.

First up: the dreaded interview scheduling dance. When it takes a week of back-and-forth emails to schedule an interview, top candidates are already accepting offers elsewhere. The fix? Set aside dedicated interview blocks on your hiring managers’ calendars and use scheduling software that lets candidates pick their slots. One client cut their time-to-interview by 70% with this simple change.

Next, consider your approval process. Does your perfect candidate need to wait for five different approvers to sign off on their offer? In today’s market, that’s a recipe for losing them to a competitor. Streamline your approval chain and set clear response deadlines. Better yet, get pre-approved salary ranges and offer parameters so you can move quickly when you find the right person.

Here’s a surprising one: your application process might be secretly sabotaging you. If candidates need to create an account, fill out lengthy forms, and then re-enter information from their resume, many will abandon ship halfway through. Keep the initial application simple – resume, contact info, and a few key questions. Save the detailed forms for later in the process.

Finally, watch out for the feedback black hole. When candidates don’t hear back for weeks after an interview, they assume the worst and move on. Set clear expectations about your timeline and stick to it. A quick “still interested, still processing” message can keep candidates engaged while you work through your internal processes.

Remember: in today’s market, the best candidates won’t wait around while you sort through internal bottlenecks. Every friction point in your process is an opportunity for them to accept another offer. Fix these common bottlenecks, and you’ll see better candidates making it through to hire.