Welcome to The Big Squeeze! In this edition, we're covering best practices for candidate engagement and spotlighting our fantastic recruiter, Sionnan Wood. Sionnan expertly sources and vets talent, getting to the heart of jobseekers' motivations and skills to make the perfect match for our clients.
About Sionnan:
My first recruiting role was for my alma mater, ArtCenter College of Design, where I recruited and counseled aspiring artists and designers across multiple disciplines—including Interaction Design, Environmental Design, and Illustration. I was promoted up to Director of Undergraduate recruitment before moving into freelance Creative Consulting. I started recruiting for Tangerine Search in 2022, and after a hiatus, returned in 2024. All told, I have about 7 years of recruiting under my belt so far.
Working at Tangerine Search has provided me with a rare and valuable opportunity to learn about new technologies and disciplines, engage with candidates working at the cutting edge of their industry, and contribute to a company that emphasizes a strong sense of belonging in the workplace—both for our team and for our clients.
What do you love to do outside of work? I still make art, and will be showing new work this summer as part of a group show with the Contemporary Irish Arts Center, Los Angeles. I am a toddler mom, and provide creative consulting on occasion.
Poppy Funnel, 2025 oil on panel 24 x 30 inches
Tangerine Search specializes in technical recruiting and staffing plus Fractional HR services to help our clients across the US with compliance, people data, and talent management. We know how to help you create, align, and measure strategies that align with your company values—and work with you to build the resources and practices that help your employees experience authentic inclusion and visibility.
Best Practices for Candidate Engagement
In today’s talent-driven market, the ability to attract and engage qualified candidates isn’t just a function of good branding or a competitive salary—it’s about creating a thoughtful, responsive, and personalized candidate experience from the very first touchpoint.
Why Candidate Engagement Should Be a Top Priority
The candidate experience can make or break a hiring decision. Even the most qualified applicants are more likely to disengage—or accept competing offers—if they feel overlooked, confused, or undervalued during the hiring process. Strong candidate engagement leads to:
Higher response and conversion rates from top talent.
Shorter time-to-fill for critical roles.
Improved employer branding and word-of-mouth reputation.
Better alignment between candidate expectations and role realities.
Whether you're scaling your tech team, growing your HR or TA teams, or building operational capacity, your ability to keep candidates engaged is essential for long-term hiring success.
5 Top Candidate Engagement Best Practices
At Tangerine Search, we continuously test and refine our candidate outreach strategies. Here are five proven practices you can integrate into your recruitment efforts—whether in-house or in collaboration with your recruitment partner (like us!).
#1—Personalization: Make Every Interaction Count
Gone are the days of generic outreach. Today’s top candidates are inundated with messages and expect employers to understand their skills, goals, and values. Personalize the candidate experience by ...
1—Using the candidate’s name in emails and communications.
2—Referencing the specific role or mission that aligns with their background.
3—Sharing personalized insights—e.g., “We see your experience in SaaS product launches as a strong match for this upcoming platform build.”
#2—Mobile Optimization: Reach Candidates Where They Are
According to Pew Research Center, "Sixty-eight percent of American adults now own a smartphone, and 41% of these smartphone owners have used their mobile phone in some aspect of a job search." If your message isn’t easy to read and act on via mobile, you risk losing their interest—instantly.
Here's what you can do ...
1—Use responsive templates and mobile-friendly layouts.
2—Keep subject lines and preview text short and compelling.
3—Use large, easy-to-read CTA buttons like “Schedule Interview” or “View Job Details.”
#3—Clear Calls to Action (CTAs): Guide Candidates Through the Process
When a candidate receives your outreach, or lands on your website (specifically your "Careers" page), what do you want them to do next? Strong and direct calls-to-action guide the candidate through the job pipeline. For example ...
1—In outreach emails, highlight your CTA at both the middle and end of the message.
2—Limit each email to one clear action to make decisions easy for your candidates.
Why it matters: When calls-to-action are easy to find and understand, candidates are more likely to move forward in the hiring funnel—fast.
#4—Consistent Branding: Build Recognition and Trust
Every interaction—from the first message to the offer letter—reinforces your company’s reputation. When candidates see consistency in tone, visuals, and values, they’re more likely to view your organization as stable, professional, trustworthy—and interesting.
Here are some branding touches to consider ...
1—Use consistent colors, logos, and fonts across all hiring touchpoints.
2—Align language with your brand voice—whether that’s innovative, inclusive, mission-driven, or all of the above.
3—Reinforce your employer value proposition in small ways throughout the hiring process (job description, emails, offer letter, etc.):
A benefit of working with Tangerine Search is having your Employer Brand amplified by our team from the first moment of outreach.
#5—Feedback Loop: Show Candidates Their Voice Matters
Engagement is a two-way street. First and foremost, keep active candidates informed of the process and share updates. While you and your team are looking to fill an open job, the job seekers are considering a life change. Simply keeping candidates in the loop will go a long way to building rapport.
By working with Team Tangerine, you have experts on your team presenting you with top-tier talent and establishing a compelling brand from the outset. We can also work with you to develop scalable recruitment systems that help position you to attract top talent in the future, or put HR systems in place that will make you scalable at your next funding round and growth phase.
Final Thoughts
Hiring success isn’t just about finding great candidates—it’s about keeping them interested, engaged, and excited to work with you. In a hiring landscape where talent has options, the way you communicate is just as important as the opportunity you’re offering.
At Tangerine Search, we’re here to support both sides of the equation: bringing you exceptional talent and making sure every step of the journey reflects your company’s strengths.
Need help optimizing your candidate communications?
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