The recruitment process can be grueling, especially when you’re trying to fill a high-level position. That’s why it’s so disheartening when you finally find an ideal person, only for them to say, “thanks, but no thanks.” There are many reasons that candidates decline job offers, and there are lots of things you can do to improve your odds.

Unemployment rates are at an all-time high, which might make you think that employers hold all the cards in today’s recruitment market. In fact, many businesses are finding it harder than ever to fill vacant positions, and competition is especially ferocious at a senior level. Landing a top-tier candidate is a real challenge that requires an airtight recruitment process.

In today’s candidate-driven market, there is a stigma around securing elite candidates, and that it takes paying them top dollar to come to work for your company. And if you cannot, then your pool of prospective employees starts to dwindle.

Whether an executive or a mid-level manager, the majority of candidates generally hate panel interviews. If you’ve ever experienced one during your job search, you probably understand why. It’s overwhelming to find yourself outnumbered by strangers who are taking turns lobbing interview questions at you as they make their hiring decision. It’s a lot of pressure both in-person and even preparing for a panel interview, and that kind of pressure can be counterproductive as candidates get too flustered to give detailed answers.

Hiring Top Executive Talent in a Hyper-Competitive Market Co-authored by Debra Kabalkin, Practice Leader, Talent Acquisition and Kyle Robertson, Senior Recruiting Consultant

Is your business struggling with hiring needs? Are you trying to determine which path to take to help propel the company forward and get the right talent on your team? All of the industry buzzwords can be quite confusing when looking for potential third-party recruiting services.