62 Companies Honored for Excellence in Candidate Experience in 2024 Global Awards

In a significant development for the recruitment industry, ERE Media and the CandE Benchmark Research Program have unveiled the winners of the 2024 Global Candidate Experience Awards. The announcement, made on September 12, 2024, recognizes 62 companies from around the world for their excellence in providing positive candidate experiences during the hiring process.

The awards, based on the largest study of its kind, evaluated responses from over 230,000 job candidates across 125 participating companies. Since its inception in 2011, the CandE Benchmark Research Program has analyzed feedback from over 2,000 global employers and more than 1.8 million job seekers, making it a cornerstone in understanding and improving candidate experiences worldwide.

This year's winners were determined through a comprehensive data analysis that focused on candidates' satisfaction survey scores. To qualify, companies had to meet a statistically significant candidate response rate, with a particular emphasis on feedback from candidates who were not hired. The final analysis hinged on four key questions: overall candidate experience ranking, likelihood of reapplying, willingness to refer others, and potential changes in business relationship based on the experience.

The awards were distributed across multiple regions, with 52 winners in North America, 10 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), 8 in Asia-Pacific (APAC), and 4 in Latin America. This diverse geographical spread underscores the global importance of candidate experience in modern recruitment practices.

Kevin Grossman, ERE Media VP of Research, highlighted the significance of these awards in the current challenging recruitment landscape. He noted that candidate frustration and resentment are at an all-time high, making the efforts of these winning companies even more commendable. Despite leaner teams, fewer open jobs, and an increase in applications, these organizations have demonstrated resilience and commitment to improving the recruitment process.

The importance of these awards extends beyond mere recognition. They reflect a growing awareness in the business world of the critical role that candidate experience plays in talent acquisition and overall company reputation. In an era where job seekers have more platforms to share their experiences, positive or negative, companies that excel in this area gain a significant competitive advantage.

Moreover, the awards serve as a benchmark for best practices in the industry. They provide valuable insights into what top-performing companies are doing right in their recruitment processes, offering learning opportunities for other organizations looking to improve their candidate experience.

The impact of a positive candidate experience goes beyond just filling positions. It can significantly influence a company's brand perception, affect future talent pools, and even impact business relationships. Candidates who have positive experiences, even if not hired, are more likely to remain engaged with the company, potentially becoming customers or referring other qualified candidates.

As the job market continues to evolve, particularly in the wake of global changes in work patterns and expectations, the focus on candidate experience is likely to intensify. Companies that prioritize this aspect of recruitment are positioning themselves not just as employers of choice but as forward-thinking organizations attuned to the needs and expectations of the modern workforce.

The 2024 Global Candidate Experience Awards serve as a reminder of the ongoing importance of human-centric approaches in recruitment. As technology continues to play an increasing role in hiring processes, these awards highlight the enduring value of positive human interactions and experiences in the world of work.