Sending final round candidates breakfast money the morning of their interview

Enhancing Candidate Experience: The Impact of Thoughtful Support During Final Interviews

In the competitive landscape of talent acquisition, the candidate experience has become a crucial differentiator for organizations striving to attract top talent. Final interview stages are often laden with anxiety and uncertainty for candidates, who may be navigating multiple opportunities and weighing their options. Recognizing this, innovative companies are exploring ways to create a positive and memorable interview experience that subtly communicates their organizational culture and values.

One approach that has yielded remarkable results involves providing candidates with a small gesture of appreciation on the day of their final interview. For instance, some organizations send a $30 prepaid breakfast gift card accompanied by a note saying, “Get a great breakfast, come in energized and ready to show us why you’re amazing.” This simple act can set a welcoming tone, making candidates feel valued even before they step through the door.

At our organization, implementing this practice significantly impacted our hiring success. Our talent acquisition team initially debated its necessity, but the results speak for themselves. Since introducing this gesture, our offer acceptance rate for final candidates has increased to 81%. Candidates have shared that receiving the note and breakfast stipend alleviated their nerves, allowing them to approach the interview with confidence. One candidate mentioned that she was so anxious she couldn’t eat that morning, but the message from us made her feel cared for and helped her relax. Another noted that this was the first time an employer acknowledged the difficulty of interviews from a candidate’s perspective.

Moreover, this practice fosters positive perceptions of our company, even among candidates who ultimately do not receive an offer. Several have expressed in feedback that, despite not being selected, the experience made them eager to consider applying again in the future.

From a logistical standpoint, implementing this approach is straightforward. The support is typically sent via email or messaging platform immediately after confirming the interview time, taking only seconds per candidate. Since its adoption, our recruitment costs have remained efficient. Interestingly, despite spending approximately $30 per finalist, our cost per hire has decreased due to the higher acceptance rate. This approach even garnered approval from our CFO, who noted the financial efficiency of improved candidate engagement—especially when doubling efforts for senior or managerial roles.

Ultimately, this practice underscores a fundamental truth: people remember how they are made to feel. Investing in candidate well-being and demonstrating genuine appreciation before they even become employees helps establish a foundation of trust and mutual respect. Organizations that prioritize these small, meaningful gestures foster stronger relationships and stand out in the competitive talent market.

In the end, thoughtful touches like providing breakfast support during final interviews are more than just acts of kindness—they are strategic investments in your employer brand and future talent pipeline.