Candidate experience and people retention

Podcast Episode Summary: Talent Acquisition Insights with Elin Filipp from Puzzel

Introduction to Elin Filipp and Puzzel

• Elin Filipp, Chief People Officer at Puzzel, a leading CCAS company in Europe, shares her journey from tech recruitment to specializing in HR tech and automation within the SaaS and tech industries. Puzzel is experiencing rapid growth, undertaking mergers and acquisitions, and undergoing significant transformations.

Innovative Recruitment Strategies

• The philosophy of avoiding vacancies: Elin discusses the importance of taking time in the recruitment process to ensure cultural fit and employee engagement, which in turn leads to less turnover and a less stressful hiring process.
• Always be hiring: Even when not actively looking to fill a position, maintaining contact with potential candidates and focusing on employer branding can prepare companies for future hiring needs, reducing the urgency to fill vacancies quickly.

Creating a Positive Candidate Experience

• Feedback and quick responses: Providing timely and constructive feedback to candidates sets Puzzel apart. This approach includes giving detailed feedback to interviewed candidates, ensuring they understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Matching candidate effort with feedback: For applications, a general feedback approach is used, but more personalized feedback is given as candidates progress through the hiring process, including post-interview calls to discuss outcomes in detail.

Employee Retention and Engagement

• Beyond career progression: While career development is important, employee engagement and happiness are crucial for retention. Puzzel focuses on employee engagement surveys (eNPS) to gauge satisfaction and implements strategies for transparency and co-ownership.
• Flexibility as a key value: Puzzel's award-winning flexible workplace policy allows employees to manage their own work time, accommodating different life needs and promoting a balance between work and personal life.

Recruitment's Role in Retention

• Balancing selling the opportunity and being realistic: Elin emphasizes the importance of being honest about both the positive aspects and challenges of a role. This honesty helps attract candidates who are not only excited about the opportunities but are also ready to tackle the challenges.

Key Learnings from the Episode

1. Invest in the recruitment process: Taking the time to find the right fit not only reduces turnover but also contributes to a more engaged and satisfied workforce.
2. Maintain an "always be hiring" mindset: Building relationships with potential candidates and focusing on employer branding can ease future recruitment efforts.
3. Enhance candidate experience through feedback: Providing constructive feedback, even to those not moving forward in the process, can improve your company's reputation and increase the likelihood of future applications.
4. Focus on employee engagement for retention: Understanding and addressing employee needs and desires can significantly lower turnover rates and foster a more committed workforce.
5. Be transparent in recruitment to ensure retention: Clearly communicating the challenges and opportunities of a role helps attract candidates who are a better fit for the company in the long term, ultimately aiding retention.

This episode with Elin Filipp provides valuable insights into the intricacies of talent acquisition, the importance of candidate experience, and strategies for employee retention in the fast-paced tech industry.

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