The unemployment rate is at a 16-year low, meaning most top-performing employees are already gainfully employed. And today’s job seekers have countless job opportunities at the tips of their fingers — through job boards, social media and other channels — making the job market even more competitive for employers.

Despite the competition for top talent, many employers wait up to 10 days to review and respond to job applicants. Read my latest Inc. post to learn how you can respond to job applicants quicker and treat candidates similar to how you treat customers.