Candidate experience is the overall impression a jobseeker forms across every touchpoint with an employer, from first discovery of the vacancy through application, interviews, offer, and onboarding or rejection. It covers practical factors such as response times, clarity of communication, interview structure, and feedback quality.
In the Dutch labour market, where many sectors face sustained talent shortages, candidate experience has a direct commercial effect. Poor communication, silent rejections, or unclear processes lead to withdrawn applications, negative employer reviews on platforms such as Indeed and Glassdoor, and weaker referrals. Strong experiences, by contrast, convert rejected candidates into future applicants and brand advocates.
Practical standards include acknowledging applications within a few working days, sharing interview formats in advance, giving balanced feedback after final rounds, and handling personal data in line with AVG expectations. Measuring candidate NPS or short post-process surveys helps employers benchmark and improve their process over time.