Why Delayed Feedback on Candidates is Hurting You

Author: Katie Sechrist March 5, 2025 3 min read

Hiring managers, we get it—you’re busy. Between managing projects, overseeing teams, and ensuring your company stays ahead in a competitive market, hiring can sometimes take a backseat. But when recruiters send candidates your way for review, delaying your feedback can cost you more than just time. It can cost you top talent, damage your employer brand, and slow down your team’s success. Here’s why timely feedback is critical in today’s fast-moving hiring landscape.

1. You’re Losing Top Talent to Competitors

The best IT and engineering professionals don’t stay on the market for long. Many are actively interviewing for multiple opportunities, and if they don’t hear back from you, they’ll move on. A delayed response could mean losing a highly qualified candidate to a competitor who moved faster. By the time you’re ready to engage, your ideal hire may already be off the market.

2. Your Hiring Process Gains a Negative Reputation

Candidates talk. Whether through word-of-mouth or online reviews on platforms like Glassdoor and LinkedIn, job seekers share their hiring experiences. If your company has a track record of slow communication or drawn-out hiring processes, it can deter future candidates from applying. A negative hiring reputation makes it even harder to attract top talent, forcing you to work twice as hard to fill roles.

3. Your Team Suffers from Delayed Hiring

Every day that a critical position remains open, your existing team feels the strain. Productivity slows, workloads increase, and employee morale can take a hit. The longer you take to provide feedback on candidates, the longer it takes to fill essential roles, potentially leading to burnout among your current employees.

4. Candidates Question Your Company’s Decision-Making

IT and engineering professionals value efficiency and decisiveness—just like you do when hiring for your own team. If they perceive delays in feedback as a sign of internal disorganization or indecisiveness, they may reconsider their interest in your company. This hesitation can make it even harder to secure top candidates when you finally extend an offer.

5. Your Hiring Costs Increase

A slow hiring process can lead to increased recruitment costs. The longer a role stays open, the more time and resources you’ll need to invest in sourcing, interviewing, and engaging new candidates. Speeding up your feedback loop can help you secure talent faster and reduce overall hiring expenses.

How to Fix It?

• Set Clear Review Timelines: Establish a timeframe for reviewing and providing feedback on candidates—ideally within 24 to 48 hours.
• Prioritize Communication: If you’re unsure about a candidate, communicate with your recruiter instead of letting the resume sit untouched.
• Streamline Decision-Making: If multiple stakeholders are involved in hiring, align on key decision-making criteria in advance to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Respect Candidates’ Time: Just as you expect candidates to be responsive and prepared, they expect the same from you. Quick feedback signals that you value their time and interest.

In today’s competitive hiring landscape, time is a critical factor in securing top talent. By providing timely feedback on candidates, you position your company as efficient, decisive, and an employer of choice. Don’t let slow communication cost you the talent that can drive your business forward.

Need help streamlining your hiring process? Converge Resources specializes in IT and engineering staffing, connecting you with top-tier professionals while ensuring a seamless hiring experience. Let’s work together to find the right talent—fast!