The rate is worked out by dividing the number of candidates who did not attend by the number who were booked, for a given stage and period. If 40 people book a first interview and 8 do not appear, the no-show rate is 20%. Teams often track it separately for interviews, assessment days and first shifts, because the causes and fixes differ at each point.
No-shows waste interviewer time and leave gaps in shift-based hiring, where a missed start date can mean an uncovered rota. Rates usually rise when there is a long gap between booking and the appointment, when reminders are missing or when candidates are unsure what to expect. Short lead times, clear instructions, easy rescheduling and a quick human follow-up all help bring the rate down.