Put job candidates at ease by outlining the process

Over the last year, I've applied for many jobs. One thing I've really appreciated is when hiring managers or recruiters explain the process from the start. It may seem a little thing to hiring managers, but for job candidates, it's a huge relief to understand the process and the timing. Some companies even publish the process with job postings.

For example, OneGoal Graduation - a nonprofit organization focused on helping students succeed in post-secondary education - includes details of the hiring process on their job listings page. Each stage is outlined with what, why, and when.

Why does this matter? When I was the hiring manager, I wanted the best information possible to help decide whom to offer a job. Unnecessarily making a job applicant nervous doesn't foster the best performance. And I don't think that seeing how candidates react to uncertainty in the hiring process is a way to measure their ability to deal with ambiguity or other challenges in their work.

So, why not take a few minutes to write down your process and share it with all job candidates? In a buyer's market, information like that may increase your chances of attracting the best candidate--and recognizing that candidate because of how she shines in the hiring process.