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When you consider all of the millions job classifications that recruiters work on, recruiting commercial drivers is among the hardest. Not because of the complexities of the driver job, or because of DOT regulations, but rather because moving drivers through the application process has become more of an art than a science. One area where many companies miss the opportunity to enhance their driver recruiting success is through the creation of more inviting application processes that offer more immediate feedback to drivers.
Application completion is the step where the largest number of interested drivers is lost. Getting interested drivers to actually complete the application and then to continue through the follow-up processes has historically been a challenge. If your application process is not simple and direct you are, no doubt, losing great candidates every day. Even drivers who truly want the job will not bother with an application process that takes up too much time. When you begin to consider things from the perspective of a driver you may understand why.
You must first consider that drivers are presented with new job opportunities on a regular basis. Most of these drivers see offers from competing companies every day. Many of them even get phone calls directly from driver recruiters trying to steal them away from their current jobs. There is certainly no shortage of great opportunities or interested companies for qualified drivers. One way for your opportunity to stand above your competition, and actually get hires, is to have the most streamlined application process. This starts with the application itself, and continues through the final response and job offer.
Like most other people, drivers look for instant gratification. They need to see a direct link between completing the application and actually getting the job. If you require them to put forth too much effort in order to get the job, they will most likely pass it by. And why not…there are plenty more opportunities out there just like it. Unless they believe that they can easily complete the application, and get an almost immediate response, they will likely decide that the job isn’t worth the time it takes to get it. And unfortunately, the more experienced the driver is the less patience he will show.
One way to minimize fall-offs is to have a process that allows interested drivers to talk briefly to a recruiter before they are required to complete the application. This step can have a profound impact on the number of completed applications any company receives. Drivers are far more inclined to actually complete an application after they are able to ask a few questions and determine that an opportunity really exists for them. They want confirmation that they stand a reasonable chance of landing the job before they are willing to invest their time into completing a lengthy application. Remember, most drivers are inundated with driver job opportunities, and they won’t waste time on the ones that may not pan out.
It also helps to address the speed of your process right in your advertisements. Using statements such as “immediate response to your application”, or “call today to discuss your qualifications” has been shown to increase the number of qualified applicants. On the other hand, any indication that your process will be slow or cumbersome will be an immediate turnoff for drivers. A process that requires drivers to mail in a paper application and wait for a call is an immediate deterrent for most drivers.
Where possible utilize web-based applications and consent forms. A good online application can shorten your recruiting cycle by days. Online applications not only speed up the process, they also ensure that you present drivers with your application the moment they learn about your opportunity, while the excitement level is still high. They also make a statement to drivers about the professionalism of the company. Emailing PDF applications and then waiting for drivers to complete and return them is an obsolete approach that can be far more costly than implementing a more modern process.
With competition for drivers on the incline, you can’t afford to lose good hires because of an outdated hiring process. Successful fleets have come to realize that an effective recruiting process takes advantage of web-based technology that is mobile-ready. Migrating to a low-cost, online application is paramount for any growing fleet and Cdlsuite.com offers an affordable web-based application along with DOT compliant consent forms that any fleet can implement.
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