Behind The Candidate Experience: How Top Talent Stays Engaged

Behind The Candidate Experience: How Top Talent Stays Engaged

From Searching Smarter by Selby Jennings | Phaidon International

October 29, 2025 · 35 min · Season 1 · Episode 28

About this episode

The episode discusses improving candidate experience and keeping top talent engaged in the recruitment process with insights from HR executive Carrington Carter.

Have you ever wondered why so many companies lose their best hires before day one, or watch talented people slip away just as they’re settling in? With so many new listeners joining us, we’re bringing back one of our most popular early episodes, which tackles how to improve candidate experience and keep top talent engaged. In this week’s episode of the Searching Smarter podcast, we’re joined by Carrington Carter, an HR and TA executive with extensive experience in human resources and talent acquisition leadership. From entry-level to executive recruitment, leading groundbreaking DEI initiatives, and overseeing mergers and acquisitions, Carrington shares what has proven to work, and where there are opportunities to improve for both candidates and clients. If you’re a recruiter or hiring manager looking to improve your application process and make hiring faster, this is for you. Covered in this episode: 0:34 - What a positive candidate experience looks like and why it matters. 2:06 - Carrington’s “3 Cs” to build a standout candidate experience. 6:54 - Providing the right feedback to hiring teams. 8:57 - Should you pass on an 8/10 candidate in search of a 10/10? 11:09 - Providing…

People in this episode

Guest: Carrington Carter

Topics covered

  • candidate experience
  • talent engagement
  • recruitment process
  • human resources
  • talent acquisition
  • DEI initiatives

Keywords

  • candidate experience
  • top talent
  • recruitment
  • feedback
  • onboarding
  • AI in hiring
  • engagement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Selby Jennings, Phaidon International

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