Most companies invest heavily in attracting applicants—but miss a major opportunity right after candidates hit “submit.”

At CollabWORK, we believe every job application is a brand moment. Candidates might not be hired, but they should still leave with a reason to advocate for your company. That’s why we built a free, no-lift post-apply module to help employers do just that.

Here’s what we’ve learned—and how your team can take action today.

The Candidate Experience Gap

Roughly 80% of recruiting budgets are spent on top-of-funnel activities. But what happens once a candidate applies?

Too often, it’s a generic thank-you page, followed by silence. That approach comes at a cost:

• 77% of candidates report being ghosted during the hiring process
• 72% of rejected applicants share negative experiences with friends or on social media
• 53% drop out due to lengthy or confusing application processes
• 26% of qualified candidates decline offers after a poor experience
  

These stats reflect more than missed hires—they reflect missed brand-building opportunities.

What Happens When You Get It Right

Some brands have turned the post-apply moment into a strategic advantage. Here’s how:

Virgin Media

Virgin Media discovered that 18% of its job applicants were also paying customers. When these candidates had poor experiences, the company saw real consequences:

• 66% became brand detractors
• 6% canceled their service
  Estimated annual loss: $5.4 million

To address this, Virgin Media launched Volt, a post-apply portal offering career content and rejection support. The result was a projected $5 million in customer loyalty savings, plus better candidate satisfaction and improved brand perception.

Delta Airlines

Delta noticed that frequent flyers were among those applying for jobs. In response, the company personalized rejection emails—acknowledging customer loyalty—and saw higher Net Promoter Scores and reapplication rates.

PwC

PwC introduced a branded post-apply microsite featuring firm culture videos and career resources. It led to:

• A 40% increase in candidate satisfaction
• Higher referral rates
• Fewer mid-process drop-offs
  

You Don’t Need a Big Budget

Several companies have made a lasting impression on candidates through low-cost tactics:

Thoughtful Gifts

• Grovider gives $25 Amazon gift cards to all interview participants as a gesture of appreciation.
• Trainual offers Etsy gift cards to finalist candidates, reinforcing their support of small businesses. Many candidates respond with thank-you notes.
  

Product Perks

• Columbia Sportswear and REI give rejected applicants access to employee discounts or memberships—simple perks that leave the door open for future engagement (according to this Reddit thread).
  These are often zero-cost to the company, drawing from existing internal programs.
  

Clear Communication

• Zapier offers career coaching to final-round candidates
• HubSpot provides a public candidate resource hub
• Forward Consulting shares hiring rationale and rejection stats to promote transparency
  

The Numbers Behind Candidate Experience

Research confirms what many hiring leaders suspect:

• 81% of candidates expect regular updates during the hiring process
• 66% say their experience affects their final job decision
• 94% would consider applying again after a positive experience
  

Candidate experience doesn’t just impact reputation—it influences hiring efficiency, retention, and customer loyalty.

Introducing CollabWORK’s Free Post-Apply Module

Inspired by these success stories, CollabWORK created a no-cost, no-dev-work solution for employers looking to improve their post-apply experience.

What It Is:

A plug-and-play module you can add to your confirmation page or email. We supply curated newsletters, learning resources, and industry-specific content to help candidates—regardless of hiring outcome—continue their career journey.

Why It Works:

• No content or engineering required
• Works with any ATS or email provider
• Aligns with DEI, transparency, and community-building goals
  

Why Employers Are Using It

• Zero lift: Add a link or snippet—CollabWORK handles the rest
• Brand-building: Turns an overlooked moment into a positive candidate touchpoint
• Candidate-friendly: Offers real value, even to those who aren’t hired
• Community-first: Reflects where talent actually spends time—niche newsletters, Slack groups, Discord communities

Get Started in Minutes

You can pilot with a small candidate group and launch in under five minutes. No meetings or integrations required.

Visit www.collabwork.com to learn more or reach out directly at summer@collabwork.com.

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