Recruitment is a pain point in every organization. Getting it right requires time, expertise and more than a little finesse. With business moving so quickly, at least one of the necessary ingredients is often in short supply. Add in challenges with busy managers, high volume of open positions and the need for speed in a highly competitive arena and recruitment quickly begins to feel overwhelming.
Current trends in recruitment solutions identify employer branding as the elixir that will treat the pain of your recruitment woes – and we agree that employer branding is a critical component of your recruitment plan. Positioning your organization effectively and creating positive top-of-mind recognition as an employer is unquestionably going to impact your recruitment success. But, it needs to be said: employer branding is more than recruitment advertising.
Employer branding is a holistic approach to building a high performing workplace. It’s not a tagline. It’s not a trendy advertising campaign. It’s definitely not a quick fix to address an urgent recruitment challenge.
Candidates are demanding authenticity during the recruitment experience and they seek out crowd-sourced opinions to validate their research. Employers need to be ready to back up their recruitment advertising claims that tout the organization as a great place to work. Candidates will quickly discover if you are not the real deal and all your work will be for nought. Alignment of recruitment efforts and employer brand has never been more critical to success.
In order for your recruitment strategy to be effective in the long term, it must first reflect your true employer brand which has been well established and previously validated both internally and externally. Without investing in the critical first steps to build your employee value proposition, the recruitment advertising elements can fail. Don’t make the mistake of jumping into quasi employer branding projects in the hope of creating quick recruitment solutions. Consider that branding is not a project with a beginning and an end; it’s a long term culture strategy for your organization from which your long term recruitment strategy flows. Taking the time to build a strong foundation will not only improve your recruitment program, it will ensure your efforts positively impact workplace culture, boost productivity and hit the bottom line.