Why do I have so many no shows/unresponsive applicants?

We can understand how frustrating no-shows and no-response applicants can be, as we've experienced this in our own hiring. It's something every recruiter faces. While it isn't something any of us can fully control, we always try to do something about it.

At Kalibrr we're constantly studying the job search process to answer questions such as: Why don't some job seekers show up to their interviews? Or why don't some jobseekers respond after they apply? While we can't fully control a jobseeker's willingness to respond or show up, understanding their experience can prepare our recruiters to avoid these situations. 

The top reasons for unresponsive applicants based on our study are:

1. They are no longer interested in your opportunity because they've found another job or are taking a different direction in their job search.
2. There was an emergency or an unexpected change in their schedule and were not able to communicate it properly.

No-shows or no-response rates can be signs of unprofessionalism you would want to avoid. However, in some cases, they may just be brought about by unexpected circumstances and don't always mean that the applicant is no longer interested or unqualified for the job.

Here are some tips you can try to ensure that you are being a proactive recruiter:

1. Be clear with expectations on your job post.
2. Keep an open line of communication with your applicants. Friendly follow-ups and pre-interview confirmation messages are always helpful. (You can set these up on Kalibrr easily, see the article on Message Templates & Triggers: How do I create a message template?)

If these methods aren't always successful, you can take note of these candidates by flagging them as no-show or no-response applicants.

Mark an applicant as "No Show" and "No Response" by moving them to the No Show and No Response states in your Candidate List.

We'll notify them that they have been flagged. While this flag won't appear on their public profiles, recruiters in your company will know that you have flagged them. You can always remove the flag or unmark a candidate by removing them from that state and moving them to a different state in your Candidate List.