Increasing Candidate Conversion Rates with AI Recruiting in HeyMilo

For many job seekers, AI interviews are still a new concept. While they offer speed and efficiency, they can also create uncertainty. Candidates often worry about whether they’ll get the interview "right" on their first try or if they’re answering the questions the way the AI expects. They might feel unsure about how the process works, leading to hesitation or disengagement before they even finish.

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It’s easy to overlook the fact that this technology, while designed to streamline the hiring process, is still a big change for talent. Many are used to traditional face-to-face or phone interviews, and an AI interview can feel unfamiliar or intimidating at first. Even when they start an interview, they might not complete it because of confusion about what’s expected or fear that they won’t do it perfectly.

For it to work effectively, a process with an AI screening tool needs to be clear, supportive, and reassuring from start to finish. Top candidates move fast. If people aren’t sure about how to navigate the interview, they’re more likely to bail midway. 

HeyMilo’s AI interviewer is designed to guide candidates through the process smoothly, ensuring they understand what’s expected every step of the way and feel confident in their responses.

Below are some key steps and strategies to increase candidate conversion rates when using HeyMilo.

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Key Indicators for Measuring AI Recruitment Success

1. Conversion Rates: Track how many candidates progress through each stage of the process to spot weaknesses in the AI screening for various roles.
2. Time to Hire: Measure how much faster positions are filled after implementing AI to identify efficiency gains.
3. Hiring Quality: Track employee performance and feedback to ensure AI is selecting the right candidates.
4. Candidate Experience: Assess how candidates perceive the process through response time, satisfaction, and feedback.
5. Cost Per Hire: Calculate recruitment costs before and after AI implementation to gauge cost savings.

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Inviting Candidates to Interview & Driving Completion Rates

Step-by-Step Process for Inviting Candidates

1. Engage Immediately with HeyMilo
   HeyMilo automatically engages candidates as soon as they apply, sending messages via email, text, or WhatsApp. With ATS integration, this is fully automated, reducing manual touch points and ensuring timely outreach.
2. Clarify the AI Interview Process
   When inviting candidates to interview, be clear that they’ll complete an AI-powered interview. Based on the role, the recruiter can choose the format that makes the most sense for the candidate: phone, web audio, or web video. For example, for roles like warehouse positions or fieldwork, a phone interview might be the most accessible option. For office or customer-facing roles, web audio or web video could provide a more interactive experience.
3. Use the Right Communication Channel
   Many find email works best for professional roles, while text or WhatsApp tends to yield better results for shift or hourly positions. HeyMilo allows you to automate communication via the right channel for your role, and automatically manage candidates’ preferences. Recruiters select the appropriate interview format (phone, web audio, web video) based on the role and the candidate’s likely engagement style.
4. Be Transparent About Timing
   Let candidates know how long the interview will take (usually just 10 minutes). This helps reduce anxiety about a lengthy or confusing process.
5. Automated Reminders
   HeyMilo’s "Nudge" feature automatically sends reminders to candidates who haven’t completed their interview. This ensures they follow through without requiring manual follow-ups from your side.

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Example Email Template to Maximize Completion Rates

To ensure that candidates are completing their interviews, here is an example of an email message you can send to encourage them to complete their interview:

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Hi [Candidate's Name],

Thank you for applying to our [Role] position at Microsoft! We’re excited to move forward with the next step in the process.

To continue, please complete a quick virtual interview within the next [Insert Time Frame]. The interview should take no more than 10 minutes.

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Example Text/WhatsApp Template to Maximize Completion Rates

Alternatively, if contacting them through text message is more suitable, here is an example of a text message you can send to encourage them to complete their interview: 

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Hey [Candidate Name], this is [Name] from Microsoft. Thanks for applying to our [Role] position! As a next step, please complete the following virtual interview: [Insert Interview Link] within the next [Insert Time Frame]. The interview should take no more than 10 minutes. 

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Consider adding your name to the message! It helps build trust since people are naturally wary of texts from unknown numbers.

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ATS Integration for Optimal Success

With ATS integration, much of the process is automated, reducing manual effort and ensuring faster candidate communication. As soon as a candidate applies, there’s no delay in getting in touch with them.

• Instant Engagement: Candidates are contacted immediately after applying, saving time and ensuring no lag in the hiring process.
• Customizable Fields: You can set up specific fields to collect the most relevant data for each role, ensuring you always gather the information you need.
• Data Synchronization: HeyMilo automatically updates your ATS with candidate responses and relevant data, ensuring everything stays organized and current.

By integrating HeyMilo with your ATS, you can speed up candidate progress through the hiring stages, ensuring a smoother transition to final-round interviews and quicker placements. With better candidate data visibility, you avoid wasting interview credits on unqualified candidates, ultimately protecting your budget even further and improving cost-efficiency in your hiring process.

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No ATS Integration? Here’s Your Next Step

Even without ATS integration, HeyMilo still delivers great results by engaging candidates and keeping them on track throughout the interview process. However, without ATS integration, you miss out on the full visibility of your shortlist (e.g. switching between tabs to verify) and the automatic synchronization of candidate data. This means you’ll need to manually track who is in your shortlist and verify their progress, which can be time-consuming and lead to missing out on key insights.

1. Set Up Email/Text Automations: Use automated emails or texts to ensure candidates get timely reminders to complete their interview.
2. Upload a CSV (Candidate Ingestion): Simply upload a CSV of candidate emails and phone numbers, and HeyMilo will automatically engage them.
3. Push Candidates via Web hooks/APIs: Programmatically send candidate information from your system to HeyMilo to trigger instant outreach.
4. Track Progress: Keep an eye on who has started but not finished the interview, and follow up if necessary.
5. Leverage HeyMilo’s “Nudge” Feature: Send automatic reminders to candidates to finish their interview.

Adding HeyMilo’s interview process to your job descriptions is a great way to set clear expectations and improve candidate understanding upfront, which can lead to more completion rates.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you're using HeyMilo with ATS platforms like Ashby, Lever, Workday, Greenhouse, Bullhorn, Avionté, JobDiva or managing candidates manually, HeyMilo’s AI-driven process helps you engage candidates, gather the right data, and confidently move through each hiring stage.

With HeyMilo, you’ll experience a more efficient, cost-effective recruitment process, while keeping the focus on finding the right talent for every role.

Ready to get started? Learn more about how HeyMilo’s AI screening tool can transform your recruitment today!

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