Offer Accepted

Reframing Thoughtful Rejections with Selcan Sengul, Senior Director of Talent and People Operations @ Taxfix

Ashby

Every touchpoint with a candidate, even a rejection, is an opportunity to foster engagement and connection.


In this conversation with Shannon, Selcan Sengul, Senior Director of Talent & People Operations at Taxfix, shares how her team revamped their approach to candidate communication. She talks about human-centered recruiting, from personalized rejection templates to aligning with DEI goals. You’ll also learn about the role of transparency, consistency, and feedback loops in creating a memorable candidate experience that reflects a company’s values.

Key Takeaways: 

  1. Turn rejection into a thoughtful experience: Every "no" is an opportunity to leave a lasting impression. Craft templates that offer actionable feedback, direct candidates to valuable resources, and infuse a personal touch to show you care about their journey—even when it doesn't lead to your team.
  2. Streamline without sacrificing empathy: Automation is your ally for repetitive tasks like scheduling and rejections. But don’t let efficiency dull your humanity. Smart tools paired with compassionate messaging ensure candidates feel respected at every step.
  3. Set the stage for success from day one: A solid kickoff is the backbone of a great hiring process. Align with your team on clear job descriptions, panel roles, and process expectations to keep everyone marching toward the same goal. The result? A smoother, more rewarding hiring journey for all.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction

(02:05) Defining candidate experience and its impact on trust

(05:16) Kickoffs and job descriptions as foundational steps

(08:22) Leveraging templates to enhance candidate experience

(12:07) Implementing rejection templates to improve efficiency

(15:06) Balancing automation and personalization in messaging

(20:23) Measuring success: NPS scores and brand perception

(24:52) Achieving hiring excellence through alignment and fairness

(30:07) Viewing the job search as a marketing exercise