Recruiting is a two-way street. You're not just filling positions; you're building relationships with top talent. 

Think about it: 72% of candidates say a smooth interview process can sway their decision to join a company. Imagine the impact of clear communication, timely updates, and a genuinely positive journey from application to offer (or even rejection). Yet employers globally struggle to find the skilled candidates they need. Why? Because the candidate's experience often falls short.

So, how do you improve candidate experience and hire top-notch candidates all the time? With the help of a candidate relationship management tool. 

In this quick guide, we will take you through everything you need to know about candidate relationship management and how you can make the best use of it.

What is candidate relationship management? 

Candidate relationship management is a strategic approach in recruiting that focuses on attracting, engaging, and nurturing relationships with potential and existing job candidates. Unlike traditional transactional methods, where the processing of applications and hiring is based solely on qualifications, candidate relationship management emphasizes long-term engagement and building rapport.

What is recruitment CRM software? 

Recruitment CRM software is designed to streamline the candidate journey, from attracting ideal talent to nurturing relationships with those not selected for a role. It acts as a central hub, consolidating all candidate data, communication history, and notes into one easily accessible platform. This eliminates information silos and ensures everyone on your team has access to the latest updates, streamlining collaboration and eliminating duplicate efforts.

Here's how candidate relationship management tools or software helps you streamline your recruitment process:

• Centralized data and communication: Say goodbye to scattered spreadsheets and fragmented information. A candidate relationship management software acts as a single source of truth for tracking and updating application-related progress, including resume management, detailed applicant profiles, engagement and nurturing tools, etc. 
• Automated Workflows: Free yourself from repetitive tasks. Schedule interviews, send updates, and manage approvals with a few clicks. With automated workflows, your team can focus on what truly matters: building relationships with top talent.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Gain valuable insights with built-in analytics. Track key metrics like time-to-hire, source of hire, and candidate experience to identify areas for improvement. Use this data to refine your recruitment strategy and optimize your hiring process.

A candidate relationship management software focuses on optimizing and streamlining your entire hiring journey and talent pipeline. Here's a quick glance at how it works:

• Discover: Analyze past interactions and identify ideal candidates already in your network. Additionally, it can suggest potential candidates based on skills and experience, helping you build a stronger talent pool.
• Attract:  Promote your employer brand and highlight open positions with targeted outreach campaigns. CRM also helps you focus on attracting passive candidates who aren't actively searching for jobs.
• Engage:  Maintain consistent communication with candidates throughout the process. Send personalized updates, provide feedback even to those not selected, and keep everyone informed.  This helps create a positive candidate experience, which is crucial for attracting top talent.
• Hire:  Leverage CRM data and candidate rankings alongside your ATS for informed hiring decisions. Additionally, CRM analytics can help you evaluate your hiring strategy's effectiveness, ensuring you attract and retain the best talent.
• Nurture:  Maintain relationships with all applicants by providing feedback and retaining their details. Stay connected with "near-misses" who may be perfect fits for future openings. This nurtured talent pool ensures you have a ready supply of qualified candidates for future opportunities.

Remember, a candidate relationship management software is different from an applicant tracking system. An ATS primarily manages sourcing and applications, while a CRM facilitates continuous communication and engagement with candidates. 

Importance of candidate relationship management

77% of talent professionals report difficulty finding skilled candidates. This makes attracting and retaining top talent critical. Here's where candidate relationship management steps in.

Improve candidate experience (CX) 

According to the Talent Board, two of the top reasons candidates withdraw from the application process are feeling like their time was disrespected and the process taking too long. A CRM streamlines CX through automation ensuring they feel valued throughout the journey.

• Automated updates: Candidates receive regular updates on their application status, keeping them informed and engaged.
• Nurturing early-stage candidates: A candidate relationship management software helps nurture talent early in the pipeline, showcasing your company culture and keeping them warm.
• Past applicant highlights: A CRM triggers alerts for engaged candidates from previous applications, ensuring they're considered for suitable openings.

Reduce time to hire 

Lengthy hiring processes are a red flag to candidates. According to Robert Half, 57% of job seekers lose interest if the process drags on. Here's where CRM helps with that:

• Process transparency: CRM software provides clear visibility into the hiring process, eliminating confusion and speeding up decisions.
• Bottleneck identification: It analyzes data to identify areas for improvement, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
• Nurturing candidates: CRMs allow you to proactively engage with potential hires, keeping them warm until a suitable role emerges.
• Pre-vetted talent pool:  By nurturing past applicants and identifying qualified individuals, you already have a pool of pre-vetted candidates, reducing time-to-hire.

Using Kula ATS, an all-in-one recruitment solution, can help you significantly reduce the time to hire by:

• Organizing candidates into talent pools based on customizable criteria like skills, location, and experience. This streamlines sourcing efforts and simplifies candidate identification.
• Measuring the effectiveness of your sourcing and outreach strategies with robust reporting and data tracking. This allows you to refine your approach and maximize results.
• Tracking and managing the entire applicant journey from a single record. This record includes candidate status, applied positions, interaction history, and talent pool association, ensuring a holistic view of each candidate.

Build a strong employer brand to attract top talent

Positive candidate experiences translate into a powerful employer brand. A candidate relationship management software enables recruiters and hiring managers to maintain the following:

• Good communication: CRM promotes clear and consistent communication with candidates, including providing feedback for non-selected applicants.
• Positive candidate experiences: These positive experiences translate into online reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations, strengthening your employer brand.
• Personalized engagement: The candidate relationship management software allows you to tailor communication based on candidate skills and interests, showcasing your company's attentiveness and fostering engagement.

Kula ATS offers powerful features to improve candidate experience, including:

• Branded email campaigns: Create and schedule automated emails to engage passive candidates before they apply and proactively nurture talent pools for upcoming opportunities.
• Personalized communication: Personalize and schedule emails, including auto-replies, at various stages of the application process. All correspondence is captured in the candidate record, ensuring complete transparency and fostering long-term relationships.

By employing a CRM or a powerful solution like Kula ATS (or both), you can streamline your recruitment process, nurture candidate relationships, and build a strong employer brand that attracts top talent.

Candidate relationship management using recruitment marketing tools

Recruitment strategies are embracing marketing tactics. Candidate relationship management is now mirroring marketing automation platforms, extending beyond the sourcing of applicants. 

82% of organizations recruit through social media, and CRM software amplifies this by advertising job openings across multiple platforms. It streamlines talent pipeline building and candidate organization from application to hiring while also enhancing outreach to candidates where they're active.

Kula ATS simplifies the process:

• Easily advertise jobs on various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Sync ads to career sites and social media seamlessly.
• Get extra exposure with Google Jobs Search integration.

Features of a good candidate relationship management solution

Here's what to look for in a candidate relationship management tool in 2024:

• ATS integration: Look for a CRM that offers ATS integration to automate and streamline your entire hiring process. 
• Sourcing tools: A good CRM equips you with built-in sourcing tools (such as integration with job boards) to discover top talent across various platforms, expanding your talent pool beyond passive job seekers.
• Targeted communication and engagement: Look for functionalities that allow you to deliver personalized messages and targeted outreach campaigns, building relationships with potential hires throughout the entire recruitment journey.
• Reporting and analytics: Look for a CRM with comprehensive analytics and reporting dashboards, allowing you to track key metrics such as KPIs and performance, identify recruitment bottlenecks, and continuously optimize your strategy for long-term success. Custom dashboard capabilities are a plus.

Maximize candidate experience with Kula ATS

A good CRM, combined with Kula ATS boosts candidate engagement and makes their experience much better.

Imagine effortlessly managing applications, automating workflows, and engaging with potential hires – all within a unified platform. This translates to a smoother recruitment experience for both you and your candidates.

With Kula, you can prioritize candidate experience, leverage data-driven insights, and discover hidden talent pools. It's the winning formula to build a competitive edge and secure your recruitment success.

See how Kula ATS can revolutionize your recruitment strategy with a free trial!