Poor first impressions by potential employees are costing businesses in the East of England, according to a recruitment firm.
The national What Workers Want 2018 report by Hays, which surveyed almost 700 people in the region, found nearly two thirds (63%) of job applicants had been put off pursuing a role by an unwelcoming internal atmosphere, while 47% were deterred by unfriendly staff.
The other main deterrent for applicants was a bad experience at interview, which 62% said put them off further pursuing a position.
A bad experience for applicants can go on to create further problems, Hays found, as more than half (52%) of employees surveyed had left at least one new job within the first year because it didn't meet expectations set in the application process.
Jane Donnelly, regional managing director of Hays in the East of England, said: 'Our findings show that many organisations in the region are letting future talent slip through their fingers.'
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