Improving Time to Hire: Strategies for Streamlining the Recruitment Process
- Anabelle Cormier
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
There are several KPIs to consider in the talent acquisition process. Time-to-hire is among the most important. It measures the time lapse between when a candidate applies for the job and when the offer is accepted. A short time-to-hire is ideal because it means organizations spend less time and money looking for candidates and can return to full productivity quickly.
Find out what you can do to reduce the time-to-hire at your organization.
Time to Hire Formula
It is not difficult to determine time-to-hire. Simply count the days between the time the applicant receives an application and the time the offer is accepted. Here is an example:
June 1: A company posts a job.
June 3: They receive a candidate’s application.
June 5 - 15: The applicant undergoes interviews and evaluations.
June 17: The offer is made.
June 18: The offer is accepted.
Time-to-hire measures the days between the time the application is received and the time the offer is accepted. In this instance, the time-to-hire is 18 days.
Organizations can determine their average by adding times-to-hire for all their employees within a specific period and dividing the result by the total number of those job positions.
Time to Fill vs Time to Hire
Time-to-fill and time-to-hire are two important talent acquisition metrics. While often used interchangeably, they are not the same.
Time-to-fill measures the time when a job opens until the time the offer is accepted. Time-to-hire measures the time the application is received until the offer is accepted.
Organizations may use time-to-fill to measure additional metrics, such as how long it takes them to place an ad and how long it takes to get a response. Time-to-hire is more focused on candidate interactions. Both should be considered by organizations wishing to streamline talent acquisition.
Why Aim for a Low Time to Hire Rate?
Reduces Talent Acquisition Costs: Organizations spend time and money looking for talent. The longer the process takes, the more they spend. They also lose money in productivity while positions are open. A short time-to-hire rate reduces costs and losses.
Provides a Better Candidate Experience: Clients may get frustrated by a lengthy hiring process. Worse yet, if hiring takes too long, they may accept another position before completing the process. If candidates are unhappy with your company’s hiring practices, they can post negative reviews online. These reviews can damage your reputation and make it difficult for you to attract top talent.
How to Reduce Time to Hire rates
Use Effective Recruitment Tools: Recruitment tools like AI and automation review data quickly to streamline the hiring process. They parse resumes, scour databases to find the best candidates, perform prescreening and matching, and can conduct automated interviews. These technologies deliver fast results and allow HR staff to focus on other aspects of talent acquisition.
Assess All Stages of the Recruitment Funnel: Review all stages of your recruitment process to identify bottlenecks that may increase time-to-hire. Develop strategies to mitigate obstacles.
Gather Feedback: Survey candidates and gather feedback to determine common issues. Address issues accordingly.
Create More Targeted Ads: Job ads should clearly explain the job's requirements, pay and benefits, and company culture. They should be distributed to suitable job boards and networks. If your ads are ineffective, you may attract the wrong talent. A large volume of unqualified candidates makes it difficult to find the right candidates, prolonging the hiring process.
Develop Your Employer Brand: Similarly, a strong employer brand can help you attract the right candidates quickly. Work on your career page to ensure it clearly states what you want in employees and what they can expect when working at your company.
Stahl Recruiting Provides a Streamlined Time-to-Hire Process
Stahl Recruiting has years of experience in talent acquisition, ensuring an efficient process. We combine tools with our extensive knowledge to identify the best candidates. Our team offers a streamlined process, providing an optimal candidate experience.
Contact us when you are ready to hire the next executive for your rail industry position.
Stahl Recruiting - Executive Search
Where Railway Leadership Meets its Future
11601 Shadow Creek Pkwy #111-326
Pearland, Texas 77584
877-557-8245
