In today’s world, regardless of company size, a strong employer brand has become strategically imperative to attract, engage, and retain the best people.
It’s a candidate-driven market. While huge salaries, flexible working hours, and big bonuses are the biggest motivators, candidates of today want more; they want to work for a company that’s trustworthy and consistent and that delivers what’s promised. Therefore, it’s important to come across as a company candidates want to associate with. That’s why employer “branding” has become a buzzword, and every company is gearing up to improve its employer brand.
Here are five ways you can improve your employer brand:
1. Make Your Social Media Speak for You.
Just as employers check candidates’ social media platforms before offering them a job, candidates also check employers’ social media feeds before applying. Thus, your social media platforms can be a dealbreaker; they can give you an opportunity to either gain or lose candidates. Therefore, it’s important your social media channels show off your company in a way that appeals to candidates.
Post video clips of teambuilding exercises, employee testimonials, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, employee accomplishments, etc., on your social media channels. Showcasing these stories tells potential candidates that your company values its employees.
2. Embrace Technology.
Another way of boosting employer branding is by embracing technology. With the help of technology, you can provide a better candidate experience. Technology helps you streamline candidate engagement, candidate assessment, selection, and interview-scheduling processes.
3. Flex the Rules.
It is important for any organization to have rules and policies in place for smooth functioning. That said, employees now expect flexibility options that can help them maintain a good work/life balance. You should try to accommodate such personal obligations. Being flexible with your employees builds trust and helps attract and retain top talent.
However, many employers worry that it could produce a disengaged workforce. But as long as you create accountability, flexible work environments can actually be beneficial to employees, as well as your organization. In fact, it breeds positivity, loyalty, and productivity and increases the chance employees will stay with your organization long term.
4. Nurture Your Culture.
A well-defined culture creates a backbone and gives definition to your employer brand. In short, your employer brand is a reflection of your company culture. You need to establish a clear image of what your brand stands for in the mind of your target audience. So, keep your focus on building a positive culture to ensure you attract the right candidates for your open roles.
5. Learn from Your Successes and Failures.
Employer branding is constantly evolving. The employer branding strategy you have been implementing may have generated results in the past. But, with emerging trends and technological advances, what’s worked for you before may not work for you now.
Therefore, it’s imperative that you learn from your mistakes, revisit your experiences, and act upon the feedback you receive. Apply what you learn to understand what will work and what will not in this ever-evolving space. The key to a successful employer brand is continually adapting to change and tweaking your employer branding strategy to reflect these changes.
| Kelly Barcelos is a content marketing manager for Jobsoid and specializes in HR. When Barcelos is not building marketing campaigns, she is busy creating content to help people hire better. She shares tips, industry insights, innovations, and several other topics that help a wide variety of audiences in their hiring efforts. As a working mom of three, she knows the importance of time management and counts on her multitasking ability to get her through her to-do lists. |