29% job seekers say this is their biggest frustration while job hunting

Indeed's Hiring Confidence Index found Indian job seekers are most frustrated by silence after applying. The survey points to a trust gap, with candidates seeking clearer timelines, fairer assessments and transparency on AI use.The report found that job seekers do not expect every application to result in a job, but they want to know where they stand during the process (Image: pexels.com)India's hiring landscape has a trust gap, with job seekers calling for greater transparency, clearer communication and fairer evaluation during recruitment, according to Indeed's inaugural Hiring Confidence Index.India scored 58 out of 100 on the index, which examines what builds or erodes confidence among job seekers during the hiring process. The research, commissioned by Indeed between May and June 2026, surveyed 1,073 job seekers and 735 employers across India. It examined hiring communication, transparency, candidate experience, skills-based recruitment and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).CANDIDATES WANT CLARITY, NOT SILENCEThe report found that job seekers do not expect every application to result in a job, but they want to know where they stand during the process.Clear role expectations (27%), transparent hiring timelines (23%) and meaningful recruiter interactions (19%) emerged as the strongest drivers of a positive hiring experience. Lack of communication was identified as a major source of frustration. Nearly three in 10 job seekers (29%) said receiving no response after applying was the most frustrating part of the hiring journey. This was followed by long delays between interview stages (26%) and lack of interview feedback (20%).Candidates also identified the factors that would make them more confident about a hiring process. Clear salary expectations (37%), transparent hiring timelines (35%) and clear selection criteria (28%) were the strongest signals. Rohan Sylvester, Talent Strategy Advisor at Indeed, said, “Finding a job shouldn't feel like sending applications into a black hole.”He added that candidates do not expect a guaranteed positive outcome from every application but deserve “respect, clear updates, and to know where they stand.”SKILLS-BASED HIRING GAINS FAVOURThe report also points to changing preferences around how candidates are evaluated.More than half of job seekers surveyed, 54%, said skills assessments are a fairer way to evaluate candidates than resumes. Only 15% preferred traditional resume-led evaluation.The preference was stronger among younger professionals. Nearly 63 per cent of Gen Z candidates favoured skills tests, work samples or task-based assessments.Among professionals with up to two years of experience, nearly 65 per cent expressed greater confidence in skills-first hiring, compared with 35% of those with more than 10 years of experience.Employers, however, face challenges in shifting away from traditional recruitment methods. 40 per cent identified continued dependence on resumes as the biggest hurdle to adopting skills-based hiring. Another 32 per cent cited difficulties in consistently evaluating skills, while 28 per cent pointed to the time and resources required for skills assessments.EMPLOYERS FACE COMMUNICATION CHALLENGESThe report found that employers also struggle to provide timely communication to candidates.About 33 per cent of employers said delays in hiring manager feedback were the biggest barrier to timely communication. High application volumes were cited by 27 per cent, while 20 per cent pointed to shifting business priorities.At the same time, AI appears to be gaining acceptance among employers. Nearly 58 per cent of employers said AI has improved hiring efficiency.However, candidates want greater transparency around how AI is used. 42 per cent said they were more comfortable with AI-enabled hiring when final decisions involved human oversight, while 38 per cent wanted employers to clearly explain how AI is used to evaluate candidates.The findings suggest that employers could build greater candidate confidence through clearer communication, transparent timelines, skills-based assessments and human oversight in AI-assisted recruitment.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 13:35 IST