85+ Job Interview Statistics, Facts and Trends [2024]

Nervous about a job interview?

Many people feel the same. 

There are about 1.5 job openings for every unemployed person in the US.

This data shows that there are enough jobs for candidates looking for employment. All you need is the confidence and knowledge to crack the interviews.

Gain an edge over the competition with these job interview statistics:

Top Job Interview Statistics: Editor’s Pick

1. Some employers hire candidates within 24-48 hours if they are impressed with their performance in the interview [2]. 
2. The average time for an in-person interview is 45-90 minutes [3].
3. The average interview process takes about 3-6 weeks [4].
4. 97% of recruiters prefer virtual interviews [5]. 
5. 40% of US companies have outsourced most of their recruitment processes [6].
6. A corporate job opening typically receives about 250 resumes, but only 4-6 candidates get a call for an interview [7].
7. 47.3% of people who submit up to ten job applications get 1 or 2 interview invitations [8].

Job Interview Process 

If you’re wondering how many applications it takes to land a job, here’s the answer:

Candidates who send out about 21–80 job applications are more likely to receive a job offer [8]. 

Continue reading to find out more statistics about the job interview process.

Most candidates receive one interview offer for every six applications they submit [8]

Want to improve your chances? 

Submitting five to ten applications per week can make it more likely for you to land an interview [9]. 

All job seekers have about a 26.24% chance of receiving a job offer.

Applicants with about 21–80 applications have about a 30% probability of getting an offer.

Candidates who send out more than 81 applications have a 20% chance of getting an offer.

Jobseekers who have attended at least one interview have a 37% probability of getting hired [8].

60% of applications are abandoned because they take too long to finish [10]

Ever been frustrated by long application forms?

You’re not alone!

Completion rates reduce by almost 50% when an application has more than 50 questions.

Recruiters can increase job conversion rates by 365% if they reduce the length of the application process to five minutes or less.

The conversion rate is five times higher if the job description’s length is between 170 to 250 words.

Employers who use special platforms for recruiting cut their cost-per-applicant by 250% [10]

Companies that use recruitment software can reduce the time it takes to complete an application form from 15 minutes to five. 

94% of hiring professionals agree that recruitment software has positively impacted their hiring process.

The average cost per new hire is nearly $4,700 [11]. 

More than half of the employers do not use applicant tracking software.

Companies with more than 5,000 employees take about 58 days to hire [12]

The time it takes to hire differs based on the function and size of an organization.

Here’s the data on how long it takes to hire for different functional areas:

Companies that invest in employer branding are three times more likely to get quality hires [13]

Employer branding is a crucial factor in influencing a candidate’s decision.

49% of professionals follow companies on social media to learn about their job openings.

75% of candidates will research a company’s reputation online before applying for a job.

A strong brand image reduces the cost per hire by 50%.

72% of global recruitment leaders say that employer branding has impacted hiring.

Job Interview Preparation Statistics

Need some tips to prepare for the interview? 

These interview statistics might help.

39% of hiring managers spend less than a minute looking at a resume [14]

23% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds looking at a resume.

35% of hiring managers say that unprofessional email addresses are a dealbreaker.  

34% of managers state that resumes without quantifiable results are a big no.

25% of hiring managers won’t consider resumes with long paragraphs.

77% of employers claim that typos or bad grammar in the resume are a major red flag.

About 33% of employers make a hiring decision during the first 90 seconds of a job interview [15]

An interview typically lasts 45-90 minutes.

However, most employers decide whether or not to hire someone in the first 90 seconds [15].

How do they do that?

These statistics might help you understand that:

• 70% of employers don’t want candidates to be too fashionable.
• 65% of interviewers state that clothes can be a deciding factor between two similar candidates.
• 67% of hiring managers claim that not making eye contact is a common mistake.
• 55% of interviewers say that the way the candidate dresses, acts, and walks through the door is important.
• 47% of employers say that having little or no knowledge of the company is a common error.
• 38% of interviewers claim that not smiling is a bad sign.
• 38% of hiring managers notice your grammar when speaking and the confidence in your voice.
• 33% of employers say that fidgeting too much is not good.

Job Interview Statistics by Demography

Age, gender, and race can often influence an interview.

A study conducted in the UK revealed gender, age, and racial discrimination in the interview process [16].

The researchers created fake resumes with similar experiences but different races, ages, and genders for the experiment.

They pitted the resumes of 28-year-old white men with 9 years of relevant experience against those of 50-year-old white and black men and women with 31 years of experience.

Here’s what they found out:

55-year-old applicants are three times less likely to be called for interviews than younger candidates with less relevant experience.

A 28-year-old white male is 

• 1.8 times more likely to be shortlisted for an interview than a 50-year-old white man.
• 2.3 times more likely to be shortlisted than a 50-year-old white woman.
• 2.6 times more likely to be shortlisted than a 50-year-old black man.
• 3 times more likely to be shortlisted than a 50-year-old black woman.

The study also revealed that younger white men were asked to interview for jobs that paid better than the ones the others were called for.

Older applicants try to look younger for job interviews [17]

Age can influence a person’s chances because of common misconceptions that older candidates aren’t tech-savvy or productive.

Check out some other statistics about ageism: 

69% of candidates say that employers noticeably reacted to their age during face-to-face interviews.

Ageism was noticed by candidates in 85% of finance, 84% of advertising, and 81% of marketing positions.

95% of candidates try to look younger during interviews to increase their chances.

75% of older US employees faced ageism at some point during their job hunt. 

Use of Technology for Job Interviews

In 2023, the use of technology in the recruitment process has increased.

Before the pandemic, 79% of employers conducted initial interviews via telephone or face-to-face meetings [18]. 

However, 69% of companies decided to stick to video interviews, even after the coronavirus.

What started during the pandemic became the new norm because it simplified the hiring process.

Here are some fascinating tech-related interview facts

98% of Fortune 500 companies use recruitment software [19]

Recruitment software has made the screening process faster and more efficient.

68% of hiring managers say investing in new technology is the ideal way to improve recruiting performance over the next five years [20].

67% of employers use social media to look up candidates [21]

Social media has greatly influenced the recruitment and interview process. 

Check out these key facts about the usage of social media platforms in hiring:

• 84% of organizations use social media for recruitment [22].
• 43% of employers use social media for background checks.
• 56% of interviewers won’t hire a candidate if they see something they don’t agree with on a candidate’s social media.
• 21% of hiring managers are less likely to hire a candidate without a social media presence.
• 79% of employers use LinkedIn to search for candidate information [23].
• 15% of interviewers use Facebook to look up candidates, and 10% use X.
• 25% of hiring managers use social media in the interview stage.

42% of companies use AI to screen and evaluate candidates [24]

Online assessments and video interviews have become popular among several organizations. 

Here are some facts about that:

79% of interviewers prefer video interviews [18]

51% of companies use automated interview scheduling tools to schedule interviews [25].

52% of employers use remote assessments to evaluate candidates’ competency during the interview process.

The average length of a video interview is 30 minutes, but in some cases, it can go up to 2 hours [3].

83% of candidates prefer virtual hiring events to traditional one-off events [26]

7 in 10 missed out on a job opportunity due to technical problems during a video interview [27]

5% of candidates were interrupted by someone they live with during a video interview.

25% of candidates claim that video interviews are more stressful than face-to-face interviews.

This is because they:

• find it difficult to build rapport over video
• worry about internet connection issues
• worry about being judged based on their home

Interview Question Statistics

The parameters for interview questions vary from organization to organization. But some aspects are quite common.

Here are some key statistics about interview questions:

• 75% of interviewers say that behavioral questions are effective in evaluating a candidate’s potential performance [28].
• About 63% of organizations include competency-based questions in an interview [29].
• 67% of interviews involve discussions about salary expectations and the organization’s compensation structure.
• 63% of hiring managers include hypothetical scenarios to evaluate a candidate’s problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• 38% of employers incorporate role-play exercises to assess a candidate’s ability to handle real-life work situations.

84% of hiring managers think cultural fit is one of the most important aspects of hiring. 

So, interviews might also include questions to evaluate if you’re a cultural fit.

Job Interview FAQ

How many candidates make it to the final interview?

About two to four candidates reach the final interview. In most cases, all the candidates invited to the final round will have the same level of experience and qualifications.

When will I hear back after an interview?

37% of employers give feedback within one week. However, the wait time varies based on the industry and size of the organization. The average wait time can go up to 24 business days.

What’s the average number of interview rounds?

42% of candidates get an offer after two or three interview levels. However, the number of rounds may vary based on the position. Entry-level roles have fewer levels than senior positions.

How do you answer “Tell me about yourself”?

Create a format that is structured and simple to follow. The past-present-future formula often works well. Start with your past experiences, explain your current roles, and end it with why you applied for the role.

How do I dress for an interview? 

Men can wear:

• Suit and tie
• A sweater and a button-down
• A light-colored jacket and pants
• Button-down and pants

Don’t forget the classic formal shoes if you’re interviewing in person.

Women can wear:

• Button-down shirts and trousers
• Blazer and blouse
• Black dress and tights
• Sweater and black dress pants

If you’re interviewing in person, you can wear closed-toe flats or low heels.

Summary

Interviews can be quite nerve-wracking, regardless of your experience. However, knowing the numbers and facts can help you gain more confidence. This article would’ve helped you learn everything you need to know about the interview process, from sourcing to getting an offer.

Whether you’re looking for a remote job or a position in the SaaS industry, learning about the latest statistics will give you an edge. 

Check out our website for more latest facts and trends on various topics.

Sources

1. Statista. U.S. Job Openings Drop to Lowest Level Since March 2021
2. Indeed. Q&A: How Long After an Interview Is a Job Offer Made?
3. Reed. How Long Should an Interview Last?
4. Wharton Online. How Long Is Too Long for the Interviewing Process?
5. Harvard Business Review. 4 Tips to Nail a Virtual Job Interview
6. Harvard Business Review. Your Approach to Hiring Is All Wrong
7. Glassdoor. 50 HR & Recruiting Stats That Make You Think
8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  How do jobseekers search for jobs? New data on applications, interviews, and job offers
9. Resume.io. How many applications does it take to get a job? Here’s the real answer
10. SHRM. Study: Most Job Seekers Abandon Online Job Applications
11. SHRM. The Real Costs of Recruitment
12. LinkedIn. Can you wait 49 days? Why getting hired takes so long in engineering
13. G2.com. 62 Recruitment Statistics Every HR Professional Needs to Know
14. HR Daily Advisor. Employers Point Out Dealbreakers in a Resume
15. Undercover Recruiter. How Interviewers Know When to Hire You in 90 Seconds
16. British Sociological Association. Older job applicants up to three times less likely to be selected for interview than younger ones, study finds
17. Ladders. 95% of people try to look younger during interviews — and other findings of ageism
18. Onrec. 60% of employers to keep video interviews after lockdown restrictions lifted
19. Oracle. What is recruitment software?
20. Kornferry. How RPO technology boosts hiring agility
21. Apollo Technical. Social Media Recruitment Statistics
22. CareerBuilder. Number of Employers Using Social Media to Screen Candidates at All-Time High, Finds Latest CareerBuilder Study
23. LinkedIn. Should Employers Use Social Media Contents to Screen Job Applicants’ Profiles? Is it a Good Practice in Modern Human Resources Hiring Process?
24. Simplilearn. How to Use AI in Hiring to Eliminate Bias
25. Webinarcare. Interview Scheduling Statistics 2023 – Everything You Need to Know
26. Brazen. 83% of Job Seekers Prefer Virtual Recruiting Events
27. Standout CV. Job Interview Statistics
28. LinkedIn. The Tactic This Expert Uses to Assess Soft Skills (Hint: It Doesn’t Involve Behavioral Questions)
29. Zirtual. Notable Job Interview Statistics & Trends For 2023
30. ATT. Skill vs. Culture
31. Indeed. How Many Candidates Make It to the Final Interview
32. Indeed. What Is the Average Response Time After an Interview?

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Martin Potocki

Martin is the CEO and Co-founder of Jobera.com, a global remote career advice platform. As a Career and Job Search Expert, he is dedicated to helping job seekers worldwide develop skills, find career opportunities, and land jobs efficiently. Martin shares his expertise by guiding individuals toward professional success and fulfillment.

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