Improving Candidate Engagement and Reducing Dropout in Recruitment Process

Abstract

India’s EdTech and skill development sector has rapidly expanded due to rising demand for employability programs, digital learning platforms, and corporate training partnerships. However, talent acquisition in this industry continues to face critical challenges, particularly in sustaining candidate engagement and reducing dropout across recruitment stages. This case examines the recruitment inefficiencies observed at Ethnus Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd., where low response rates, unclear communication, manual follow-up processes, and inconsistent tracking led to high levels of candidate disengagement. Through strategic interventions—such as shifting sourcing channels toward college placement cells and recruitment vendors, standardizing communication templates, implementing structured follow-up reminders, and adopting centralized Google Sheets trackers—the internship led to a significant improvement in response rates, interview attendance, and overall placement outcomes. The case highlights how streamlined communication, targeted sourcing, and basic process automation can substantially enhance recruitment efficiency in high-volume EdTech hiring environments. Insights from this experience align with academic frameworks on recruitment funnel optimization, candidate experience management, and HR operational efficiency in skill development industries.