How You Reject Candidates Matters: Kevin W. Grossman on Empathy at Scale

Most candidates don’t get the job.

But every one of them still has an experience.

That’s what I explored with Kevin W. Grossman, VP of Talent Board and Benchmark Research at Survale, on this episode of the ERE Recruiting Innovation Podcast Series.

Kevin has spent 14 years researching and improving the candidate experience, leading the data behind the CandE Awards, the industry’s benchmark for how companies treat applicants from first click to final offer.

His message: In any market, how you say no matters just as much as how you say yes.

In this episode, we covered:
-Why this is the toughest candidate market in 25 years
-What “candidate resentment” really means (and how to reduce it)
-The #1 reason candidates withdraw from the interview process
-How structured screening and timely feedback protect your employer brand
-Why rejection emails can build trust, when written the right way

Kevin’s data shows that the most trusted brands aren’t just good at hiring.

They’re good at saying no with respect and clarity.

And that pays off in the form of referrals, long-term engagement, and brand credibility that candidates actually talk about.

Listen now:
• YouTube 
• Spotify 
• Apple Podcasts 

Meet Kevin at the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit

Join him and hundreds of TA leaders Nov 4–5 in San Diego (in-person + virtual).

Use code DigiRec for 10% off your ticket: Register here