Memorable Candidate Experiences Throughout the Recruitment and Selection Process

ABSTRACT Despite frequent use of the term “candidate experience” in practice, academic research on the topic remains limited. This study examines what candidates perceive as memorable during recruitment and selection, as these experiences are more likely to shape lasting impressions of the hiring organization. Using the critical incident technique, we analyzed 278 memorable experiences from 202 candidates across three organizations. A thematic analysis revealed two key factors shaping these experiences: (1) eight categories of experience triggers embedded in social, structural, and physical recruitment contexts, and (2) three perceptions activated through sensemaking (value, fairness, and person‐environment fit). Drawing on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework that describes how various memorable candidate experiences arise. The study offers implications for both theory and recruitment practice, including guidance for designing candidate‐centered processes and a research agenda for advancing candidate experience scholarship.