Candidate

Meaning & Definition

A Candidate refers to an individual who looks for employment or is being evaluated for a position within a company. There are two types of candidates: internal (current employee) and external (applicant). During the hiring process, candidates will go through various steps, including but not limited to: screening, interviewing, selection and rejection.

Importance in HR & Recruitment

• Initiates the Recruitment & hiring cycle.
• Assists HR teams in tracking applicants using ATS or HRMS Systems.
• Ensures structured and fair evaluations of candidates during interviews and selections.
• Affects employer branding and candidate experience.
• Provides support for workforce planning through the creation of a strong talent pipeline.

Compliance Requirements

• The Information Technology Act, 2000, provides privacy for candidate data and records that are digitally stored. 
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, governs how candidate personal data is collected, stored and used. 
• The principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination under the Indian Labour Law must be followed when selecting candidates.

In addition to the above laws, Recruiters are required to obtain the candidate’s consent, ensure the candidate’s privacy with regard to data and utilise non-biased means throughout the hiring process.