Survale, the leading provider of talent feedback and experience management solutions, announced today that registration is now open for the 2026 Candidate Experience (CandE) Benchmark Research and Award Program. Now in its 15th year, the CandE program is the industry's longest-running benchmark research initiative, offering organizations critical data to measure, understand, and optimize their recruiting processes and improve candidate experience.
The 2026 CandE Program provides employers with the opportunity to benchmark their candidate experience against a global standard of peers. Using a time-tested methodology, the program captures confidential feedback from job seekers at all stages of the hiring funnel—from pre-application to onboarding—to reveal the true impact of recruiting efforts on employer brand and business outcomes.
“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. There is no better way for an organization to validate their recruiting strategy.”
Participants in the 2026 CandE Program receive access to a “lite” version of Survale’s analytics platform, enabling them to benchmark globally by comparing anonymous candidate feedback against aggregate data from hundreds of other organizations. They can also uncover perception gaps between how the recruiting team views the process and how candidates actually experience it. Additionally, participants gain expert insight through a one-on-one consultation with candidate experience experts to review results and discuss improvement strategies. Qualifying organizations with the highest candidate satisfaction ratings will be recognized as 2026 CandE Award Winners, a mark of excellence in the talent acquisition industry.
“Candidate expectations continue to evolve, and in any competitive hiring market, understanding those expectations is paramount,” said Kevin Grossman, VP of CandE Benchmark Research at Survale. “The CandE Program goes beyond simple metrics; it provides a deep dive into candidate resentment, fairness, and the business impact of the hiring experience. We invite organizations of all sizes to join us in 2026 to measure what matters and celebrate their success.”
Registration for the 2026 Candidate Experience Benchmark Research and Award Program is now open. To learn more about the methodology, benefits, and timeline, or to register, visit https://survale.com/candes/.
In honor of National Candidate Experience Day, Survale will host a webinar presenting findings from the 2025 CandE Research Program. Join Benchmark Research VP Kevin Grossman on January 21 at 11 AM PT for “#CandExperienceDay2026: What’s in Store for Candidate Experience in 2026.” Register at https://survale.com/candes/.
