The average employee now uses six digital applications or services when searching for a new job, with the number increasing to eight in the US and nine in India, a recent survey by Cisco AppDynamics has found.

The study underscores the increasing importance of digital experiences in the recruitment process, as job seekers place significant value on fast and seamless application processes.

In India, 99 per cent of respondents stated it is important that the applications they use to find and apply for jobs provide a fast and seamless experience, without any delays or disruption, with 75 per cent saying that application failure would deter them from considering such a potential employer.

The most heavily-used digital services for job searches are job sites, social media platforms, employer websites, and review sites. And most people looking for a job use at least one of these services daily.

Expectations for digital experiences have soared over the past few years as people across the world increasingly rely on the convenience and flexibility that applications and digital services provide in almost every aspect of their lives. At the same time, adverse reactions, when people encounter issues with these applications, have strengthened.

75 per cent of people admit that if the applications they were using to find and apply for a new job didn’t perform properly, it would leave them feeling anxious and angry.

Job seekers have zero tolerance for poorly-performing applications and digital services - in fact, as many as 73 per cent state that potential employers have only one shot to impress them with their digital services.

In an intensely competitive labour market, a problem with the job application or digital can frustrate job seekers and even deter many of them from applying.

Digital experience now the foundation for a strong employer brand

The research, conducted among more than 12,000 consumers in 12 countries, highlights how digital experience has become a key consideration for people when they’re investigating new job opportunities. In India, 87 per cent of people report they want to work for an employer that provides seamless digital experiences throughout the recruitment process.

Significantly, the research also reveals huge upsides for employers that can deliver high-performing applications and digital services to both existing and potential employees.

Globally, 73 per cent of people claim they're more likely to choose an employer who provides great and seamless digital experiences, 33 per cent report they’re more likely to talk positively about such an employer, and 31 per cent state they’re more likely to stay with that employer.

The survey confirms that employers need to focus on providing a quick and seamless experience for prospective employees on digital channels, such as through a recruitment section on their website or email and messaging tools. This is essential for developing an appealing employer brand.

Unified observability key for employers to improve digital experience and talent acquisition

Many organisations struggle to optimise application availability and performance due to a shift to multi-cloud and hybrid environments. This lack of visibility and insight can lead to disruption and downtime, and potential damage to the customer experience, reputation, and revenue.

IT teams need an observability solution that provides flexibility to span across both cloud native and on-premises environments and to monitor the health of key business transactions distributed across their entire technology landscape. With real-time insights from the business transaction’s telemetry data, technologists can quickly pinpoint the root cause of issues and expedite resolution.

With talent issues continuing to present a huge strategic challenge for business leaders in all sectors, employers cannot overlook the critical importance of digital experiences right across the employee lifecycle. By ensuring that their IT teams have the tools and insights to keep applications and digital services performing at optimal levels at all times, employers can provide prospective employees with brilliant and lasting digital experiences.