Struggling to attract top candidates?
Your company may be struggling with an “image problem.”
In today’s employment market, the best talent can pick and choose their opportunities. And if your employment brand doesn’t instantly answer candidates’ biggest question – Why should I work for you? – they’re unlikely to apply to your job postings or even answer your recruiter’s phone calls.
So make it easy for your “target market” (i.e., the talented professionals who will thrive in your organization) to learn what it’s really like to work there. Use these three tips for leveraging your online brand to attract higher caliber candidates:
Showcase your values and culture. What makes your company great? Do you have beautiful, spacious workspaces? Is work-life satisfaction a core value? Why do your employees love working for you? Determine what sets your organization apart. Then find ways to show and tell candidates, so they can determine if they’re a potential fit:
- Share stories about individual and company successes on social platforms.
- Create a “core story” for your organization that conveys, in meaningful terms (not just strict corporate-speak) your company’s mission, culture and values.
- Interview employees in various departments about why yours is a great place to work. Feature them in the career section of your website.
- Upload pictures of your offices, employees and special events (e.g., team building activities, community involvement) to “pull back the curtain” and give candidates a behind-the-scenes look at your organization.
Explain why you’re an employer of choice. In every aspect of your candidate recruitment efforts, detail the ways your company distinguishes itself as a best place to work. Here are a few factors top candidates consider:
- Benefits
- Bonuses and merit-based awards
- Wellness programs
- Flex work options (such as flexible work schedules, telecommuting and job sharing)
- Opportunities for training, professional growth and advancement
Monitor and manage your social reputation. Like it or not, what others say about your organization is as important as what you say about yourself. If employees (current or former), clients, customers or even vendors share negative feedback on social platforms or review sites, it can undermine the credibility of your employer brand – and drive away potential candidates.
Protect your social reputation by:
- Monitoring what others say about your organization on sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter.
- Developing and consistently implementing sound policies to address negative reviews or feedback.
- Neutralizing unfavorable ratings by actively soliciting favorable ones. Nothing negates a single scathing review like 10 glowing recommendations.
The best professionals want to work for employers of choice. Use these suggestions to build a strong online brand that clearly communicates why high performers should work for you.
