The 2026 Candidate Experience (CandE) Benchmark Research and Award Program is now open for registration, as announced by Survale, a leader in talent feedback and experience management solutions. Entering its 15th year, the CandE program is recognized as the industry's longest-running and most rigorous benchmark research initiative, providing organizations with critical data to optimize recruiting processes and enhance candidate experience.
Participants in the program gain access to a 'lite' version of Survale's analytics platform, enabling them to benchmark their candidate experience against a global standard of peers. The methodology captures anonymous feedback from job seekers at all stages of the hiring funnel, from pre-application to onboarding, revealing the true impact of recruiting efforts on employer brand and business outcomes. Key benefits include uncovering perception gaps between recruiting teams and candidates, receiving expert consultation, and earning recognition as a CandE Award Winner for top-performing organizations.
'We are proud to kick off the 15th year of the CandEs, a program that has defined the standard for candidate experience excellence,' said Jason Moreau, CEO of Survale. 'By combining this prestigious research with Survale's powerful analytics technology, we are giving talent leaders the actionable intelligence they need to not just measure sentiment, but to drive real operational change.'
Kevin Grossman, VP of CandE Benchmark Research at Survale, emphasized the evolving nature of candidate expectations: 'Candidate expectations continue to evolve, and in any competitive hiring market, understanding those expectations is paramount. The CandE Program goes beyond simple metrics; it provides a deep dive into candidate resentment, fairness, and the business impact of the hiring experience.'
Registration is open now, and more details, including methodology and timeline, can be found at https://survale.com/candes/. Additionally, Survale will host a webinar on January 21 at 11 AM PT for National Candidate Experience Day, presenting findings from the 2025 CandE Research Program. The webinar, '#CandExperienceDay2026: What’s in Store for Candidate Experience in 2026,' can be accessed via registration at the same site.
The announcement underscores the importance of candidate experience as a competitive differentiator in talent acquisition. By participating, organizations can validate their recruiting strategies and drive meaningful improvements based on data-driven insights.
