The Race for Talent: Why Delayed Feedback Is Costing You Candidates

Over recent months, high-calibre professionals across our sectors have become more active in the market. Many are engaging in conversations now with the goal of securing their next move for early 2026.

Our early insights from the Hunter Savage 2026 Salary & Talent Survey support this. An astounding 71% of candidate respondents told us they are either actively looking or open to the right role for 2026 and a significant number want to progress discussions before the festive season.

This increased market momentum creates a new challenge for employers:
delays of even a few days can change a candidate’s level of engagement.

 

Delayed Decisions = Disengaged Candidates

Across all our sectors from Legal, HR and Accountancy to Engineering, Operations and Commercial roles strong talent does not remain available for long. Many candidates are involved in multiple processes simultaneously, and when one employer moves faster than another, the choice becomes clear.

We are consistently seeing situations where:

• Feedback takes longer than expected
• A second-stage interview is delayed
• Internal approvals slow the next step
• A meeting is postponed until “next week”

In these moments, previously committed candidates lose confidence or accept another offer. A strong pipeline can weaken quickly, not due to salary expectations or culture fit, but simply because the hiring process moved too slowly.

The result?
Businesses are missing out on high-quality talent because timing became the deciding factor.

 

What the Most Successful Employers Are Doing

Speed does not mean compromising on assessment quality. The organisations securing top talent are:

1. Streamlining interview stages

Two focused, well-structured interviews often outperform four repetitive ones.

2. Setting clear decision-making timelines

Candidates stay engaged when they know exactly what will happen next and when.

3. Providing prompt, constructive feedback

Even brief updates maintain momentum and build trust.

4. Reducing internal bottlenecks

Agreeing interview panels, approval routes and timelines before going to market prevents delay.

These practical changes are proving to be some of the biggest differentiators in securing talent across all sectors.

 

Why Now Is the Time to Move if You’re Hiring for 2026

With so many professionals exploring new opportunities ahead of the new year, now is an ideal time to engage with the talent market. Those who begin their processes early typically secure their hires ahead of the January surge, when competition intensifies.

At Hunter Savage, we are supporting clients across all sectors with role scoping, salary benchmarking and managing efficient, high conversion hiring processes that keep candidates engaged from start to finish.

 

Let’s Talk About Your 2026 Hiring Plans

If you would like to discuss your current or upcoming hiring needs or review how to streamline your interview process to secure the best talent reach out to a member of our team today.