Revisiting a runner-up candidate can save time in the hiring process and strengthen your workforce. Although you added a different candidate to your team, the runner-up is a good cultural fit and might qualify for a future job.
Keeping in touch with a runner-up candidate you would like to work with lets you present additional job opportunities when they open. These activities help create candidate pipelines, decrease hiring time, and increase workforce agility.
Benefits of Revisiting a Runner-Up
Revisiting a runner-up candidate provides many benefits:
- You already assessed and qualified the runner-up as a strong organizational match.
- The runner-up is sold on working for your company.
- The candidate gained skills and experience since interviewing with your company.
These strategies can help you revisit a runner-up candidate to save time in the hiring process and strengthen your workforce.
Leave a Positive Impression on the Runner-Up
Runner-up candidates are likely to apply for future jobs with companies they like. Therefore, leaving a positive impression increases the odds of candidates staying open to additional job opportunities. Consider taking these actions:
- Call the runner-up to express sincere appreciation for their time and interest in the job.
- Explain why another candidate was hired.
- Express the ways the runner-up impressed you.
- Ask the candidate to consider looking for other job opportunities with your company.
- Suggest the runner-up join your company’s newsletter or email list to maintain engagement.
Follow Up with Details That Impressed You
Review your interview notes to recall specific information the runner-up candidate shared that stood out:
- Email a note and article relevant to the runner-up’s interests.
- Show you paid attention during the conversation and care about the candidate’s future.
- Paying attention to details encourages future interest in working for your company.
Connect with the Runner-Up on LinkedIn
Most professionals use LinkedIn to find jobs. Therefore, using the platform to connect with the runner-up candidate lets you follow their career development:
- Consider endorsing the runner-up for a skill or congratulating them on promotions.
- Focus on skill development and experience relevant to your company’s current and future job openings.
- Reach out when relevant job opportunities become available.
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