Bonnie Johnson
April 15, 2025
Newsletter ArticleCandidate drop-off is a significant concern for talent acquisition and recruiting professionals across all industries nationwide; frequently, job seekers click “apply now” but never complete the process. AgCareers is committed to developing the talent pipeline for the agriculture and food industry and improving the application process for both candidates and employers, so we surveyed candidates in our Application Motivation Survey. We asked questions to assess the ease and user-friendliness of applications, what motivates candidates to complete their application and what might prevent them from doing so. Reviewing the results helps employers enhance job postings and the application process to attract more candidates.
So, let’s get down to it—what motivates candidates to apply and choose your organization?
Show Me the Money
Many of the key findings in this AgCareers research data strongly highlight the importance of pay transparency. Job seekers want to know what the position pays before even considering applying. Candidates said salary/benefits information was the most critical detail for employers to include in a job advertisement and the most encouraging to apply. Only 32% of candidates said they would apply to a job posting that did NOT include salary details. This means employers could lose nearly 70% of potential applicants if they do not list a salary on the job posting. Including pay information creates a timesaving advantage for both the candidate and the employer. Does your application process ask for applicants’ salary requirements? Prep them ahead of time by including your salary range in the job posting.
Even after a candidate applies, compensation is their top consideration in selecting their employer of choice and making the move to another organization. Respondents said that “salary/compensation” was the most crucial factor influencing their selection in an employer and the top motivator for them to leave a job if offered another opportunity elsewhere.
Location & Job Description
Beyond including competitive compensation, the trifecta of essential information in an employment advertisement includes the job description and location. The job location is the top way respondents search for jobs online. Alternatively, location can also discourage candidates; 46% reported that being “unwilling to relocate” was the top personal factor preventing them from applying.
Candidates said that details in the job description would most likely motivate them to click “apply now” and select which job to apply for. Requirements in the job description can be encouraging or intimidating; candidates said they were most encouraged to apply if they met all the requirements listed in the job posting. Conversely, not meeting the minimum education and experience requirements would likely prevent a candidate from completing an application. Women were significantly less likely than men to complete a job application if they didn’t meet all the job posting requirements.
Application Process
Not surprisingly, job seekers were most frustrated when forced to enter repetitive information already on their resume and a complicated, confusing application process with too many long steps (like authentication). Most respondents also reported they’d be less likely to apply to future openings with an organization if the employer didn’t acknowledge their first application.
Get the Full Survey Report: Our Knowledge, Your Success
The full complimentary Application Motivation report is available for download, including extra details on the job search, employer branding, application process, and communication. Get your copy today to enhance your job posting and employer branding efforts to attract top talent to your organization. Download the full report here: AgCareers Application Motivation Survey Final Report 2024-2025
Contact AgCareers today and ask for more information about our Employer Branding packages!
