You may not give it much thought, but your employer brand and recruitment efforts go hand in hand.
In today’s competitive job market, the presence or absence of a robust employer brand strategy could determine your company’s ability to attract and retain top-tier talent.
There are many great reasons to supercharge your recruitment efforts by focusing on combining them with your employer branding. Building your employer brand helps cultivate your company’s brand reputation. Job seekers then gravitate to your organization and culture, ultimately enticing high-quality job candidates to apply for a job. In essence, a well-crafted employer brand fosters successful talent acquisition and bolsters your bottom line. Below, we will explore the strategies that can help or hamper your employer brand and recruitment efforts.
Take these steps to boost your employer brand and recruitment efforts:
- Focus on your EVP
Your Employer Value Proposition (EVP) is what makes your organization stand out from the others. Do you offer perks like matching retirement contributions, growth opportunities, work-life balance, or flexible work schedules? These are all part of your EVP and are necessary for attracting top talent, especially in today’s landscape. What perks are unique to your company? Be sure to enthusiastically share them in places those wanting to apply for a job at your organization will see, such as your careers page, job sites, or social media. - Create exceptional experiences for job seekers
Job seekers today are interviewing you as much as you’re interviewing them. The interview experience can serve as an extension of your company’s brand. Focus on making the candidate experience a positive one. Be respectful, transparent, and efficient throughout the hiring process. Make the application process simple, update job candidates regularly, and provide them with constructive feedback. Whether you end up hiring them or not, those with positive candidate experiences are more likely to tell others about your company, helping you attract top talent. - Tap into your greatest recruitment resource
Your employees are your most powerful brand advocates and can be integral to your organization’s brand strategy. Motivate workers to share their positive experiences at your company. Use social media platforms like LinkedIn to encourage staff to highlight your company culture, initiatives, and success stories and share job opportunities with their networks. Their support can significantly boost your employer brand allowing you to attract and retain talented individuals with similar values. Additionally, workers who feel heard are likely to increase your company’s reputation and bottom line. - Keep your messaging consistent
Maintaining a strong employer brand involves maintaining the consistency of your messaging across your company website, social media profiles, or other recruitment materials. Make sure your branding elements–the things you say, and how you say them–are all in sync. Consistency helps reinforce your company culture, values, and what it’s like to work there.
Avoid these hindering actions:
- Stretching the truth
Don’t present your company’s culture or perks as something they’re not. If you expect employees to work beyond their 9 to 5 hours or if they can only work virtually on occasion, be honest. There are great things about working for your company so you don’t need to embellish. Showcasing what the employee experience is actually like at your organization will help you to attract top talent. - Not seeking employee feedback
Your employer brand strategy should include being proactive about making current employees feel heard. Your staff has valuable insights about what your company does well and where it might improve. Actively listen to their concerns and make changes to enhance their experiences. - Ignoring your online reputation
If you think potential employees aren’t reading reviews about your company, think again. Be someone who actively manages your company’s reputation online. Keep on top of review sites and social media platforms, responding promptly to any negative feedback. Demonstrate to potential candidates that you fostering customer satisfaction and a positive environment are priorities. - Career progression that’s lacking
If your organization doesn’t offer attractive training, mentoring, or career development opportunities, this can disenchant some quality candidates. It isn’t for everyone, though, so the key is to figure out what is important to the population you are trying to attract, offer it, and then exploit it.
Building your employer brand and improving your talent acquisition outcomes begins with intention.
When you cultivate a powerful employer brand, it helps you to attract and keep top talent. You’ll nurture your company’s reputation and showcase your organization as a top choice for job seekers, too.
Now is the time to build a robust brand that supports your recruitment efforts. If you’re seeking more clever ways to bolster your talent acquisition strategies, The HR Team is here with the resources you need. Please contact our experienced professionals to learn more.
About The HR Team: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.
