Combat Caregiver Applicant Ghosting with these easy tips (with Jen Waldron from Augusta.Care)

Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars

This episode of Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars features Jen Waldron from Augusta Software, addressing the prevalent issue of caregiver job applicants ghosting employers. Jen identifies key challenges in the hiring process and offers insights into optimizing caregiver recruitment.

The episode begins with a discussion of a common question: "Where are the good caregivers?" Jen dispels the myth of hidden talent pools, emphasizing that 84% of caregiver hires originate from Indeed.com. This highlights the need for agencies to focus on optimizing Indeed as a recruitment platform. She notes that applicants coming directly from agency websites, though fewer in number, tend to be highly motivated and convert to hires at a higher rate.

Jen explains the reasons behind caregiver ghosting, including the ease of applying to multiple jobs with one click on platforms like Indeed, leading to applicant burnout and miscommunication. She encourages agency owners to experience the application process firsthand to understand the frustrations caregivers face.

To combat ghosting, Jen advises agencies to:

1. Evaluate the quality of information gathered during the application process.
2. Use clear qualifying standards to ensure only suitable candidates progress.
3. Offer flexible interview formats, especially for candidates applying from distant locations.
4. Respond to applicants quickly, ideally within four days, as delays significantly reduce interview attendance.

Jen highlights the importance of measuring recruitment metrics correctly, suggesting that agencies should assess no-show rates based on the total volume of applicants, rather than just scheduled interviews.

Augusta Software's platform offers solutions tailored to these challenges. It streamlines the hiring funnel by matching caregiver applicants to agencies using AI-driven processes. The platform ensures that candidates provide comprehensive, home care-specific information during the application, including previously overlooked experience like family caregiving. In return, applicants receive tailored job details, such as location, pay, and flexibility, enhancing their confidence and commitment.

A key innovation of Augusta is its caregiver-centric design, featuring simple interfaces optimized for older mobile devices. The platform gamifies the application process, encouraging engagement while reinforcing the job’s relevance to candidates. Augusta also addresses a common caregiver need—flexible hours—helping agencies identify and highlight benefits that align with caregiver priorities.

The episode concludes with Jen providing practical advice for agencies not yet using Augusta, such as using built-in messaging tools on job boards to engage applicants promptly and asking additional screening questions to gauge suitability. For those interested, she invites listeners to learn more about Augusta Software at its website, www.augusta.care.

This episode offers actionable strategies for home care agencies to improve caregiver recruitment, reduce ghosting, and ultimately strengthen their teams.

Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars is produced and sponsored by Ankota - If you provide services that enable older or disabled people to continue living at home , Ankota can provide you the software to successfully run your agency. Visit us at https://www.ankota.com.