Hiring in IT, Tech or AI - How Long Should the Recruitment Process Take?

Candidate expectations of your recruitment process

Candidates expect the process of securing a job to be quick. They need a short, hassle free application process that keeps them engaged throughout.

Research suggests that a high percentage of candidates expect an initial response to an application within a week at maximum. They expect to attend interview within a week, followed by same day feedback from interviews attended. Without keeping communication consistent, engagement will reduce. And this can decrease the likelihood of top IT, Tech or AI talent accepting a job offer. It can even influence candidate’s perception and likelihood of future applications.

Clients – keep this in mind when you’re moving top talent through the hiring funnel.

Top 3 reasons why you should consider candidate expectations when hiring

Candidates are in demand: With a high skills shortage in the IT, Tech or AI market, companies are left fighting over the best of the best. Without an efficient hiring process, candidates will disengage.

Candidates have multiple opportunities at their fingertips: More than likely, talented, highly experienced candidates will be arranging 3-4 interviews a week. Actually, this figure may be even more now. With remote working and video interviews, candidates are able to ‘attend’ multiple interviews a day. Therefore, if your hiring process is slow, there are plenty of other options available to attract them.

Candidates with low engagement may engage with your competitors: There’s nothing worse than witnessing top talent involved in your hiring process accepting a role with your competitors. If your hiring process is unnecessarily lengthy, overcomplicated or disengaging, candidates will go elsewhere.

Hiring in IT, Tech or AI – we can help you to secure the best candidates

At Langley James, we live and breathe the IT, Tech or AI market. We’ve been doing so since 1999 and we have a strong reputation for having our finger on the pulse.

We can advise you on best practice to secure the best IT, Tech or AI candidates. Whether it’s time to hire, salary guides, or contractor availability, we have the answers for you.

Here’s our tips for a successful IT Tech or AI recruitment process –

Aim where possible to provide CV feedback within 24 hours. If you’re not, then your competitors will be!

Communicate timescales to your recruiter. This helps us to manage the expectations of candidates to keep them engaged. this includes the number of interviews in the process, any testing etc.

Conduct interviews within 3 working days of CV feedback and give interview feedback within 24 hours

When making an offer, ensure that you get a contract or offer letter to us on the day of verbal acceptance. This will help prevent someone accepting another offer, even after giving verbal acceptance

Delays should be avoided as much as possible. But if a delay is unavoidable, let us know and we will do the rest.

And our final tip – bear in mind that websites like Glassdoor are an open review platform where not only employees but also candidates who have experienced your recruitment process can leave a review. Protect your brand.

If you are looking to fill an IT, Tech or AI role and require support to ensure that you can find, and offer, the best candidates, contact our team today. Likewise, if you are a job seeker, looking for a quick turn around when securing a job, we can support you too!

5 Steps to Improving Managers’ Well-Being

Feb 1, 2026 | IT

We recently reported on a study that was undertaken by London’s Chartered Management Institute, that showed the impact that management and leadership has on an individual’s health and well-being. The impact that technology is having on Managers was a prominent theme throughout the results of the study. Here we recommend ways that you can improve the well-being of your Managers and help them to manage the pressures of the role more effectively.