The 2024 Global Candidate Experience Awards, presented by ERE Media in collaboration with the CandE Benchmark Research Program, have recognized 62 companies worldwide for exceptional performance in providing positive experiences to job candidates throughout the recruitment process. This year's awards represent the largest study of its kind, evaluating responses from over 230,000 job seekers across 125 participating companies. Since its inception in 2011, the CandE Benchmark Research Program has analyzed feedback from more than 1.8 million job candidates and 2,000 global employers, establishing itself as a significant barometer of candidate experience trends.
To qualify for the awards, companies had to meet strict criteria including achieving a statistically significant candidate response rate and maintaining set standards for responses from candidates who were not hired. The final analysis focused on four key questions that significantly impacted winner determination: candidates' overall ranking of their experience, likelihood of reapplying to the organization, willingness to refer other job seekers, and how candidates would change their business relationship with the organization based on their experience. These metrics provide HR vendors with concrete indicators of what constitutes effective candidate engagement.
The awards were distributed across multiple regions, with 52 winners in North America, 10 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 8 in Asia-Pacific, and 4 in Latin America. Winners span various industries and company sizes, demonstrating that excellence in candidate experience is achievable across diverse organizational contexts. Notable winners include Avanade, Schneider Electric, and Virtusa, which stood out by winning awards across multiple regions, demonstrating consistency in their global recruitment practices.
Kevin Grossman, ERE Media VP of Research, highlighted the significance of these awards in the current challenging recruitment landscape. He noted that candidate frustration and resentment is the highest ever recorded in their research, with recruiting professionals facing leaner teams, fewer open jobs, and increased applications. Grossman commended the resilience and dedication of talent acquisition leaders and their teams in improving candidate experience despite these challenges. This context makes the achievements of award winners particularly noteworthy for HR vendors seeking solutions for their clients.
The importance of these awards extends beyond recognition, serving as a benchmark for best practices in the recruitment industry and highlighting the business impact of positive candidate experiences. In an era where talent acquisition is increasingly competitive, companies that prioritize candidate experience gain significant advantages in attracting and retaining top talent. The CandE Awards also emphasize the evolving nature of recruitment strategies, with winners invited to share innovative approaches through case studies featured in research reports and considered for the new Most Innovative Candidate Experience Improvement Awards.
As the recruitment landscape continues to evolve, particularly in the wake of global challenges, the insights gained 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 complete list of 2024 CandE Winners, along with past year winners, can be found on the ERE Media CandE Winner page, which serves as a valuable reference for companies looking to benchmark their own candidate experience practices against industry leaders.
The recognition of these 62 companies underscores the growing importance of candidate experience in the broader context of talent acquisition and management. As organizations continue to compete for top talent, those that prioritize and excel in providing positive candidate experiences are likely to gain significant edges in attracting, engaging, and ultimately hiring the best candidates. For HR vendors, this represents both a market opportunity and a call to develop solutions that help clients improve their candidate experience metrics, particularly as research shows increasing candidate dissatisfaction amid challenging economic conditions.
