4 Ways Improving the Candidate Experience Can Help Staffing Firms Increase Conversions

Although voluntary employee turnover rates have declined from the highs of a few years ago, staffing clients—particularly in industries such as retail, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing—still have a pressing need to fill roles. But, time is of the essence to convert qualified candidates as two-thirds of talent is using multiple staffing firms to seek work, according to Bullhorn’s GRID 2025 Industry Trends Report. To keep top talent in your hiring funnel, your organization must deliver a standout candidate experience.

Delays in hiring are a top reason for candidate frustration and dropoff. Some 80% of candidates want to be placed in a job in less than 20 days, and 39% expect to be placed in nine days or less. However, some of the biggest roadblocks to hiring can occur during the background check process. Slow, confusing, or stressful background checks create a negative candidate experience that can cost you and your clients qualified candidates.

Modernizing your background check process can help create a more efficient and pleasant experience for candidates and clients alike.

Candidates don’t always know what to expect when undergoing background checks as part of your staffing agency’s hiring process. Keep them in the know by explaining why you’re conducting a background check in the first place and what types of searches or verifications will be used. There are many different types of background checks, including criminal history and motor vehicle records, education and employment verification, drug testing, and more. Be sure to let candidates know which screenings are part of your hiring process.

Being upfront with candidates not only eases their worries, but can also ensure they know what information they may need to gather and provide beyond their name, Social Security number, and date of birth. For example, if they’ll be taking a drug test, they may need to provide paperwork, like prescription information, and make time to schedule a lab appointment.

Putting your staffing firm’s best foot forward helps candidates feel comfortable with the process (and confident sharing their personal data). Ensure your communications, documents, and background screening platform convey an impression of professionalism and trustworthiness.

Whether you're using a background check platform that kicks the process off for you, or sending emails or SMS messages, the ability to brand and customize your candidate communications creates a memorable impression of your firm and your client. You can also enhance engagement by using a background screening solution that automatically generates personalized messages to fit each candidate’s stage in the funnel.

Candidates use mobile devices for everything, including job searches and employment applications. Ensure they can complete their background checks on mobile devices, too. A mobile-first background screening process helps keep more candidates in the funnel and move them along efficiently, so your clients can onboard them faster.

Going mobile can help your staffing organization ensure background check forms, like consent and authorization documents, are completed quickly. A mobile-optimized online interface or app also gives candidates the flexibility to easily update or correct their personal information. The best modern background check platforms have built-in workflows that not only guide candidates through providing personal information, completing forms, and uploading documentation, but also detect errors, send notifications, and offer support through chat, email, and phone.

Job hunting can be overwhelming and stressful for candidates—especially when it feels like it’s taking too long. Some 30% of candidates have given up on recruiters who didn’t communicate often enough, Bullhorn data shows. However, 89% of candidates who reported hearing from their recruiters more than once a week would continue working with them.

Clearly, there’s an easy fix: Provide transparency into the process by providing regular status updates. A background screening solution that automatically generates candidate communications can keep candidates in the loop and possibly prevent them from accepting a competitor’s offer.

Open communication is especially important when you’re working with candidates who may be uneasy when you’re looking into their criminal history. To help calm these concerns, give them the opportunity to explain the results of their background check. Candidates will feel more comfortable knowing they can share more context around the circumstances of arrest or convictions, explain their efforts towards rehabilitation, and correct any inaccurate information.

Every hour that your client’s position remains unfilled means lost revenue for your staffing firm, and unsatisfied clients. Bottlenecks can happen anywhere during the hiring process, but background checks are one of the most common causes for delays. By adjusting your approach to the candidate background check experience, you can help reduce candidate churn, enhance engagement, and increase conversion rates.

A few small adjustments to your process can make a big difference in background screening efficiency. Clear expectations, a professional first impression, user-friendly technology, and frequent communication can keep candidates moving through the funnel faster—while improving the overall candidate experience and delivering better results for your clients.

About the author

Karen Axelton writes about business topics and best practices. She has written hundreds of articles on business subjects, including background screening, hiring and employment trends, human resource management, and the use of technology in the workplace. Her work includes educational articles, e-books, white papers, and case studies.