Yesterday we looked at some tips on getting a volunteer program off the ground in time for the holidays. Today, a few more tips on that topic.
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By Jessica Woloszyn, Content Strategy, iCIMS
See yesterday’s article for the first two tips.
- Get Innovative
Once the groundwork is laid, it is time to start thinking about the elements of your volunteer program that will make it unique for employees. Many companies have put their innovation to work and set the bar high while also gaining recognition for their efforts. One organization that is encouraging their employees to think outside of the box is Amazon. Through AmazonSmile, the company organizes donations for thousands of nonprofits. It is the way they ask employees to get involved close to home through little league coaching, clothing collections and more, however, that creates a tangible impact.
Enterprise also focuses on helping the local community, with their own spin on the idea. The company provides opportunities that encourage employees to get hands on with the needs of people in their area. The team in Michigan has recently geared up in light of the water crisis by distributing clean bottled water to those affected in Flint. This type of opportunity allows employees to see their company’s values being put into action, and shows that they really do stand behind them. It all stems from knowing your employees, clarifying volunteer goals and reaching those goals together in a new and exciting way.
- Show It Off
Establishing a culture of giving back has many benefits as far as attracting new talent. Creating a successful program simultaneously builds up an employer’s brand image and guides recruitment marketing efforts in the direction of modern candidates. Today, there is more to do than just placing amazing benefits in front of individuals to attract them to your company. Employers are realizing that job seekers are big on culture, and volunteer programs play a large role in that. In fact, 92 percent of executives said they believed improving their firm’s corporate culture would increase the value of the company, and 44 percent of college seniors believe social media posts demonstrating culture would entice them to apply to the job.
Job seekers are looking for opportunities to grow their own abilities and push the limits on what they can accomplish, and leveraging volunteer efforts on the company’s career site as well as on social media channels can send that message directly to them. When a candidate begins researching your company, they should be able to quickly access this information with enticing content that showcases what they can expect when joining the company.
The key is to bridge the gap between work and a sense of individual purpose. Your approach to volunteering should be as unique as the values your company holds, and a successful program boils down to offering a meaningful experience to both current and future employees.