The frustrations of job seekers often stem from being left in the dark after submitting applications. In fact, hiring platforms have reported that millions of job seekers' applications go ignored each quarter, fueling widespread dissatisfaction with the hiring process. In response to these issues, LinkedIn has introduced two innovative features aimed at improving the candidate experience and employer accountability. With responsiveness insights and an enhanced job match feature, LinkedIn is taking a significant step toward addressing the pain points in the hiring process.

One of the biggest challenges for job seekers is not knowing whether their application is even being reviewed. Many candidates find themselves applying to numerous positions, only to receive no feedback or response. LinkedIn aims to alleviate this frustration by adding responsiveness insights, a feature that will indicate which job listings are being actively reviewed by employers. This tool, currently being tested on a small number of job postings, will be rolled out more widely in the coming months. It offers much-needed transparency for candidates, helping them identify which positions are worth their time and effort.

The new feature aligns with LinkedIn’s commitment to making the hiring process more transparent and user-friendly. By giving candidates visibility into which employers are engaged in reviewing applications, LinkedIn hopes to restore confidence in the application process and encourage companies to improve their communication with applicants.

Another major enhancement to LinkedIn’s hiring platform is the refinement of its job match feature, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to assess how well a candidate’s qualifications align with a job listing. The feature helps candidates identify roles they are most qualified for, streamlining the application process by directing them toward jobs where they have a higher likelihood of success.

By improving the job match feature, LinkedIn is not only assisting candidates in focusing their efforts on positions where they are most likely to receive a response but also helping employers manage the large influx of applications they often receive. Rohan Rajiv, LinkedIn’s product manager, emphasized that AI-powered tools like these will dramatically reshape the hiring process over the next year. Rajiv is optimistic about the potential of AI to bring more efficiency and fairness to the recruitment landscape.

The focus on improving employer responsiveness reflects a growing trend in the recruitment industry to address long-standing frustrations related to slow or nonexistent communication from companies. According to a recent survey, the lack of employer responsiveness was one of the most significant pain points for job seekers. To further address this issue, LinkedIn has taken steps to highlight companies that demonstrate responsiveness to applicants, moving beyond just issuing responsive employer badges.

In 2023, LinkedIn began providing additional transparency by sharing an employer’s median response time with candidates, allowing applicants to gauge how quickly a company typically replies to messages. This shift reflects LinkedIn’s growing commitment to holding employers accountable for the speed and consistency of their communication with job seekers.

While LinkedIn leads the charge with its new features, it is not alone in seeking to improve the hiring process. Indeed, one of LinkedIn’s key competitors, has also launched tools to boost employer responsiveness. Indeed’s mobile app for hiring managers allows for quicker communication with candidates, enabling hiring managers to respond to applications while on the go. In addition, Indeed has introduced AI-powered messaging to streamline communication, including automated submission confirmation emails, rejection notices, and interview scheduling.

Greenhouse, another leading recruitment platform, is testing a unique set of badges to recognize companies that meet high standards for a respectful, communicative, prepared, and fair hiring process. Employers can earn badges by adhering to practices such as sending rejection emails, ensuring interview consistency, and taking steps to reduce bias in the recruitment process. These badges are designed to hold companies accountable and give candidates confidence that they are applying to organizations that prioritize fair treatment.