Paid to be interviewed
And employers are taking notice. Nearly half say they’ve had candidates decline or refuse to attend in-person interviews, potentially due to the financial burden.
Indeed career expert Sally McKibbin.
Jobseekers deserve to be fairly compensated for their time and effort, McKibbin says.
“Hiring is a two-way street. If employers want to attract diverse and capable talent, they need to be mindful of the financial barriers jobseekers face. Offering virtual options, travel stipends or simply acknowledging these costs can help level the playing field.”
With the pressure mounting, nearly half of all jobseekers and employers say it’s only fair that interviewees should get paid for their time.
Of those who believe jobseekers should be compensated, 57 per cent say interviewees should be paid between $50 and $199, with a further 21 per cent saying it should be even higher.
Employers are even more generous, suggesting a figure of $100 per interview, while one in six believe $300 or more should be paid to the jobseeker for coming in for an interview.
McKibbin says employers can level the playing field without blowing the recruitment budget. Consider offering greater flexibility, like conducting the interviews outside of work hours, so people don’t have to miss a day of work.
“Also, consider offering small changes like offering virtual interviews where possible, or at least be really up front about how many stages the candidate is expected to be involved in can help,” McKibbin says.
For those looking for jobs, it’s about pursuing opportunities that are really of interest to them and focusing on quality interviews for roles you really want, she says.
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