28 Eye-Opening Job Interview Statistics

Converting job opportunities into actual offers can be a challenging task. According to job interview statistics, success depends on multiple factors, including adequate preparation, confidence and memorability, and being familiar with your resume. 

Of course, just like with everything else related to our professional lives, job interviews have also moved online due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. For a growing number of recruiters and candidates, these new trends are a positive development, enabling them to connect from a distance.     

Whether you’re a recruiter, a job seeker, or just curious, the following stats offer valuable insight into what to expect from a job interview and what candidates think of the interviewing process.

Transforming Job Interviews into Offers  

Let’s jump straight into some general interview statistics. It might seem obvious to some, but studies show the more interviews you have, the bigger your chances of getting a job offer. Of course, there is more to it than that.

We’ll delve deeper into some of the trends in the current job market and one’s prospects of securing employment. Namely, you’ll find out how many interviews it typically takes to get an offer and how recruiters feel about the level of expertise among the candidates.     

1. An average of 250 candidates apply for a job listing. 

(TopInterview) 

There are often hundreds of people standing between you and an actual job offer. An average number of applicants per listing can be as high as 250, but recruiters will only select about ten of those for a phone screening and around four to five candidates for a face-to-face interview. From there, two to three applicants make it through the multiple interview rounds, and only one gets the job. 

2. The average job acceptance rate across all industries is 94%.

(PageUp) 

Candidates with the right set of skills and the appropriate level of experience are usually given job offers - and most of them accept. In fact, interview facts show that top-performing companies average a 99% acceptance rate year-in, year-out. 

But the effects of Covid-19 are transforming the job market. Although the American economy is slowly recovering with layoffs slowing and jobs being added, millions don’t want to go back to their old jobs. The Labour Department reported a record 9.3 million job openings in April 2021, signaling that many people are increasingly confident about finding better jobs in new industries. Such trends are almost certain to reduce acceptance rates.   

3. It takes between one and three job interviews to get an offer.   

(Indeed)

Most recruiters need up to three separate interviews per candidate before deciding to make an offer. Of course, this isn’t a rule. The average number of interviews per job listing differs depending on the industry, the applicant, and, of course, the position. Recruiters generally don’t need more than one interview for entry-level positions but may have three separate meetings when filling a senior-level post.   

4. Candidates get job offers after interviewing with two to four employers. 

(Career Sidekick) 

Looking for work can be exhausting, especially when considering the fact that you may need to have as many as three job interviews with each employer. What’s more, 60% of candidates actually find the application too hard and detailed and give up before the interview. 

And while job search statistics show that 2020 wasn’t an easy year by any stretch of the imagination, candidates can always do a few things to improve their chances of getting an offer. Ultimately, the number of interviews depends largely on your interview skills. If you’re well prepared, familiar with your resume, and you did your homework on the company you’re interviewing with, you’ll get hired faster.      

5. 63% of recruiters can’t find enough qualified candidates to fill open positions.

(MRINetwork)

According to 80% of employers, job boards are filled with unqualified junk resumes. Meanwhile, 63% of recruiters find that applicants aren’t qualified enough to fill in a position. Surprisingly, recruiters say that as many as 42% of candidates don’t respond to calls or emails. 

Hiring Statistics for 2020/21: The Interview Process 

The hiring process involves many different stages, and, of course, one of the key aspects is the actual job interview. The interview gives the candidate an opportunity to get a better sense of what’s expected of them, while the potential employer can learn more about the candidate. Some interviews are longer than others, and candidates typically wait several weeks to get a reply. 

6. The average hiring process length is between three to four weeks following an interview.

(Yello) 

A recent survey shows that many job seekers aren’t exactly thrilled with the amount of time it takes to get an offer. Most expect offers within five days of the initial interview, but that happens in only 6% of the cases. Meanwhile, only 25% of the recruiters said they managed to hire someone in under two weeks, and as many as 14% of respondents waited up to two months to get hired.      

7. An in-person job interview can last from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.

(Indeed) 

An in-person interview typically doesn’t take longer than an hour. But the average interview time varies depending on whether you need to take certain tests or even perform job duties under supervision. On the other hand, discussions are likely to be shorter if the candidate has several rounds of interviews. If the interview is being conducted by someone in a managerial position, it can last as little as 15 minutes or more than an hour. 

8. Two-thirds of the whole hiring process is spent on interview scheduling.  

(Yello) 

The hiring process is a little more complicated than it seems. In some cases, the average hiring process length is several weeks. And according to 40% of recruiters who took part in a recent survey, a lot of that time (2+ weeks) is spent on the interviewing part. Meanwhile, 13% of respondents said their average interview process time can be as long as four weeks, and 7% take between one and two months.  

9. 28% of job interviews lead to an offer in the US.

(Jobvite) 

It takes recruiters an average of 38 days to fill a position, and in recent years, around 28% of the job interviews were converted to job offers. These statistics on the job interview process tell us that there are opportunities for those who are willing to look and that the availability of talent may not be immediately obvious, but the reality is that many unemployed Americans are more than capable of good job performance.

10. 94% of candidates would like to get feedback after a job interview.

(LinkedIn) 

No matter the outcome, 94% of applicants want to know how they performed during a job interview, but only 41% of them actually end up getting feedback. And it’s not only the candidates that want the feedback but the recruiters too. In fact, 70% of HR professionals say they value performance feedback.

Job Interview Appearance Statistics: Make an Impression 

Candidates try different techniques and attitudes to impress the recruiter because first impressions are very important. Everyone thinks about the right thing to say and the right way to say it. Applicants also work hard to come off as confident and reliable, and much of that comes down to appearances. 

11. 33% of hiring managers knew whether they would hire someone in the first 90 seconds of the interview.

(Twin Employment and Training) 

The first-impression job interview statistics reveal that some managers don’t spend much time trying to get to know their applicants. A recent survey involving 2,000 hiring managers found that more than 30% made up their minds about candidates in the first few minutes of the interview. These stats further underscore the significance of first impressions.   

12. An average job interview elevator pitch lasts between 30 and 60 seconds.

(LinkedIn) 

Whether we’re looking at job interview statistics from 2020, 2021, or any previous year, the most commonly asked question in job interviews is: “Tell me more about yourself.” The trick to answering this question is to keep things simple and brief. This is where the elevator pitch comes in. It’s no more than 60 seconds of speech that gets the interviewer genuinely interested in who you are.

To keep things as short as possible, the key is to stay focused on the position you're pursuing, your potential employer’s needs and avoid highly technical terms. 

13. Almost 90% of employers are looking at your social media profiles. 

(The Manifest) 

According to job application statistics, employers do in-depth background checks, which means they’ll get around to sifting through your social media profiles. Indifference towards your online appearance can reduce your prospects of being hired. Around 79% of employers haven’t called a candidate for a job interview because of their social media profiles.

But many job seekers understand the significance of social media platforms. An estimated 73% of millennials found their last job through social media. 

14. According to job interview trends, 57% of applicants underestimate the importance of a thank-you note following an interview.

(CareerBuilder) 

After an interview ends, a little bit of courtesy can improve your chances of getting hired. However, more than half the job seekers fail to send a thank-you note, which the vast majority of employers expect to receive. The note also gives you the opportunity to say something you may have forgotten to mention during the actual interview.   

Resume Statistics: Getting an Interview

The timing of applying for a job, writing a cover letter, and even your social media profiles all matter. These are some of the numerous factors that determine whether you get called up for a job interview. 

During the interview, candidates need to be prepared, know their resumes well, and avoid being too modest or too pretentious. You should always be sincere and come off as presentable. Tailoring a resume to the job description and adding a customized cover letter are also appreciated by recruiters. 

15. Applying on Mondays increases a candidate’s chances of getting a job interview by 46%. 

(TLNT) 

Job interview statistics reveal that Monday is the best day to send in your resume. In 46% of the cases, this boosted the candidates’ chances of being hired. On the other hand, Fridays and Saturdays are the worst days for sending in your CV. 

This can be explained by the fact that the HR department has more time to process incoming mails at the start of a soon-to-be hectic week as opposed to doing so at the end of the week.    

16. Those submitting their resume between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. get a further 89% boost of getting an interview.

(TLNT) 

The best time to submit your resume is early in the morning. Doing so on Monday morning is guaranteed to improve your chances of getting hired. Available data also shows that applying immediately after the job is posted further boosts a candidate's chances of getting called up for an interview.    

17. 45% of candidates don’t include cover letters in their applications.

(CareerBuilder) 

Nearly half the job seekers make the mistake of not including a cover letter in their resume. This decreases their chances of getting a job interview because this part of your CV makes the case to your potential employer for why you’re the right person for the job. Writing a cover letter is one of the more important job interview trends that helps personalize and humanize your CV.  

18. 75% of recruiters caught a lie on a candidate’s resume.

(The Motley Fool) 

A lot of job applicants don’t seem to have any reservations about bending the truth on their CVs. Some like to exaggerate a little, while others flat out lie. According to job interview facts, HR managers frequently catch misrepresentations of a candidate’s experience or education level. Studies show that rather than lying in a biography, candidates should try to highlight the relevant skills they do possess.

Job Interview: Frustration or Useful Experience? 

Job interviews can be a fantastic chance to practice your communication skills, improve your appearance, and boost your confidence. But brief encounters can also be a significant source of anxiety. The job interview process won’t always flow perfectly. However, candidates can always prepare questions they want to ask and the information they want to give. 

The following interview statistics tell us more about how candidates feel about different aspects of a job interview. 

19. Around 50% of job interviews get rescheduled.

(Evie) 

Job interviews are frequently rescheduled across a range of different industries. This can cost the company money, lower the HR team’s productivity, and, of course, inconvenience the job applicant. That certainly explains why many job seekers regard changes in interview schedules as one of the main sources of frustration. 

20. 50% of job applicants don’t want to work for a company with a bad reputation. 

(Glassdoor for Employers) 

Half the job seekers wouldn’t accept a job at a company with a poor reputation even if they were offered more money. Statistics on job interview questions reveal that in the current job market, many employers are trying to make their companies more appealing by offering hiring bonuses, higher salaries, and even additional time off. But the research also shows that a good brand reputation can actually help the employer reduce the cost of hiring employees by 10% per hire.  

21. If the recruiting process lasts more than one to two months, the applicant probably moved on.

(Clutch) 

43% of respondents in a recent survey stated they got a job offer two weeks after the hiring process started, while 26% got a job offer after two to three weeks. But companies can have too many rounds of interviews and prolong the entire process. Job search statistics for 2020 reveal that this can result in losing applicants. 

22. 73% of job seekers say that looking for work is one of the most stressful things in life.

(Inc.Magazine) 

For some candidates, the whole job interviewing process can be really overwhelming. They’re often consumed by anxiety while waiting to find out about the outcome of the interview. On the other hand, 27% of candidates aren’t stressed out at all. According to job interview stress statistics, these are the candidates who end up getting second interviews. Simply put, stress is hard to hide, and focusing all of your energy on what you think the recruiter wants to hear probably won’t get you the job.  

23. Women are 30% less likely to get a job interview than men.

(Phys.org) 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, gender bias is also evident in the hiring process. Experimental research found that under equal terms, women are 30% less likely to get a call to a job interview than their male counterparts, even though they have the same skill set and are applying for the same job. 

Statistics on the Job Interview Process: Changes Amid Covid-19 

Amid the ongoing pandemic, the hiring process has been completely transformed, and much of it has moved online. Job interviews are now conducted remotely. In some ways, this has lengthened the job search process, but it’s also given many candidates an advantage. 

And while some job applications are perfectly comfortable with this new format, a growing number of recruiters also believe that the future will see more remote job interviewing.      

24. 86% of companies are doing job interviews online due to the global pandemic.

(Gartner) 

Virtual interviews have become the new normal for many organizations trying to deal with the challenges of the pandemic. According to job interview statistics, some companies find it more effective, while others see it as an obstacle. But whatever their preferences, organizations realize that they must adjust their hiring strategies. And even though many companies saw a decline in external hiring throughout 2020, a growing number of firms are bouncing back. 

25. More than 20% of HR recruiters believe in the future of remote job interviewing.

(LinkedIn) 

Job interviewing from a distance clearly has its perks. 53% of companies are continuing to hire people using assessment testing, while more than 80% are focused on both reference and background checks. Statistics on job interview preparation also show that candidates are more comfortable with this arrangement as they don’t have to travel to a job interview or take time off of work. 

26. The percentage of companies investing or planning to invest in the use of chatbots went from 7% to 36%.

(Jobvite) 

Chatbots have proven very useful in the screening process of job applicants. They free up human recruiters by identifying key qualifications and the required skills. According to job interview facts, chatbots also improve the overall experience for the candidate by increasing the frequency of communications. 

27. 62% of candidates believe they have a competitive advantage through video interviews.

(LinkedIn) 

People can find it cozy to do a job interview from the comfort of their homes. Maybe it’s because they have more time to prepare, or they can simply avoid traffic jams. On the other hand, there are those with no internet access or people who simply lack digital communication skills. This is why the recruiters are still experimenting with video technology. 

28. A recent survey shows that 28% of respondents approve of online job interviewing.

(Statista) 

First impression job interview statistics show notable changes in current trends. The hiring industry’s virtual innovations have undoubtedly evolved in recent years. But while the rise of online job interviewing may have been accelerated by the pandemic, Covid-19 isn’t the only factor that played a role. This trend goes hand in hand with our increasing reliance on digital technology.

Final Thoughts

Getting called up for a job interview isn’t always easy. This is one of the most important components of a candidate’s journey to getting hired. A significant number of job seekers apply for the same job position, so anxiety over the job interview is understandable. 

Once these interviews are over, the waiting starts. This can go on for days, weeks, and even months. It can be frustrating but also worth the stress if you end up getting hired. 

Rejections happen all the time, sometimes for unknown reasons. However, resume statistics show that sending in a CV at certain times of day and including a cover letter can boost a candidate’s chances of getting a call.

It’s also important to keep applying and going to interviews. The stats show that candidates get job offers after interviewing with two to four employers.