The 2024 Global Candidate Experience Awards, presented by ERE Media in collaboration with the CandE Benchmark Research Program, have recognized 62 companies worldwide for delivering exceptional experiences to job candidates during the recruitment process. This year's awards are based on the largest study of its kind, analyzing feedback from over 230,000 job seekers across 125 participating companies. Since its inception in 2011, the CandE program has evaluated responses from more than 1.8 million candidates and 2,000 employers, making it a critical benchmark for recruitment trends.
To qualify, companies had to meet strict criteria, including statistically significant candidate response rates and maintaining standards for responses from candidates who were not hired. The final analysis focused on four key questions: candidates' overall ranking of their experience, likelihood of reapplying, willingness to refer others, and how their business relationship with the organization changed based on the experience. These metrics provide a comprehensive view of how recruitment processes impact candidate perceptions and future behavior.
The awards span multiple regions, with 52 winners in North America, 10 in EMEA, 8 in APAC, and 4 in Latin America. Winners include a mix of multinational corporations and smaller organizations across various industries. Notably, companies like Avanade, Schneider Electric, and Virtusa earned recognition across multiple regions, demonstrating consistent global recruitment practices. The complete list of winners is available on the ERE Media CandE Winner page.
Kevin Grossman, ERE Media VP of Research, emphasized the significance of these awards in the current recruitment environment. 'Candidate frustration and resentment is the highest we've ever seen in our research, and it continues to be a challenging year for recruiting and hiring professionals around the world due to leaner teams, fewer open jobs, and an increase in applications,' Grossman said. He commended talent acquisition teams for improving candidate experience despite these obstacles.
The importance of these awards extends beyond recognition. They serve as a benchmark for best practices and highlight the business impact of positive candidate experiences. In an increasingly competitive talent market, companies that prioritize candidate experience gain a significant advantage in attracting and retaining top talent. The CandE Awards also emphasize evolving recruitment strategies; winners are invited to share innovative approaches through case studies, which will be considered for the new Most Innovative Candidate Experience Improvement Awards.
As the recruitment landscape evolves, particularly in the wake of global challenges, insights from the CandE Benchmark Research Program become increasingly valuable. These awards not only celebrate current achievements but also set the stage for future improvements in how companies interact with potential employees. The recognition of these 62 companies underscores the growing importance of candidate experience in talent acquisition and management. Organizations that prioritize and excel in providing positive candidate experiences are likely to gain a significant edge in attracting, engaging, and hiring the best candidates.
