5 quick ways to deal with a flood of job applications for your care job
20 Mar 2024
Hiring for frontline care roles can be tough, especially when you’re suddenly swamped with applications. While it’s great to have interest, large applicant numbers can quickly become unmanageable. Here are five practical ways to handle the volume efficiently, without compromising on quality.
- Be clear in your job ad
Make sure your job ad spells out the non-negotiables, like qualifications, experience, and availability. The clearer you are, the less likely you’ll attract unsuitable applicants, saving you time from the start.
- Use pre-employment screening tools
Behavioural screening tools like Care Advantage make it easy to assess whether applicants are a good fit for the role. They flag high-risk behaviours—such as low integrity or hostility—and highlight top candidates based on how closely their personality matches the ideal profile. To save even more time, set up an automatic response that invites every new applicant to complete the assessment. The platform then does the heavy lifting for you, sorting and ranking candidates so you can focus on the best ones first.
- Automate early-stage admin
Set up automatic responses to confirm applications, send screening questions, or even schedule interview times. A basic applicant tracking system (ATS) or automation tool can take care of repetitive tasks, so you can focus on shortlisting.
- Use short video responses
Ask shortlisted applicants to record short video answers to a few key questions. This gives you a quick insight into communication skills, presentation, and enthusiasm, without needing to lock in interview times just yet.
- Leverage employee referrals
People referred by your current team often perform better and stay longer. A structured employee referral program can help you attract more suitable candidates through trusted networks, reducing the need to sift through hundreds of unknowns. Have a look at Care Friends for an Australian-based innovative solution.
Book a chat to learn more about how Care Advantage can help you manage large applicant pools!
