Is building an Employer Brand on your 2022 to-do list? Well, we may be a little biased, but we think you’re on the right track. The job market is fierce right now and having a solid Employer Brand is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s one of the best ways to compete.
But just like Rome, your Employer Brand can’t be built in a day, and it can take time for it to reach its full potential. That’s why, to keep you motivated, we wanted to give you a little inspiration and explain precisely how Employer Branding can help you win in today’s job market.
Here are a few of the advantages of having a strong Employer Brand and why you should get started ASAP if you want to reap the rewards.
1. You can stand out from the crowd.
The job market is hot and showing no signs of cooling off in the New Year. According to a recent survey of HR professionals, 74% of respondents said they are struggling to hire qualified talent, and 57% say that voluntary resignations are higher than in previous years.
In response, many organizations are increasing wages, benefits, perks, and retention bonuses to turn the heads of their top choice candidates. This approach may work in the short term, but at a certain point, there’s only so much money you can offer. It can be tough to compete on compensation alone.
If you have a compelling Employer Brand story to tell and a persuasive offer to provide beyond your compensation package, you can still win the race. If you can’t afford huge starting salaries, you can still attract talent by highlighting the other benefits you bring to the table, like your company culture, learning and growth opportunities, inclusive practices, and more. This is your Employer Value Proposition, but it can take time to refine and communicate it in an engaging way, so the earlier you start, the better.
2. You can walk the walk.
Saying you’re a great place to work is one thing – actually doing the work to become one is another. Articulating your culture, values, vision, and employee experience is one of the easiest parts of the Employer Branding process, but a shiny career site will only get you so far.
Same with your company values. Once you have the story, you have to walk the walk, and it can take a long time to develop your employee experience and live your company values every day. For instance, if you say you have a playful work culture, can you share examples of what this looks like? Or employee feedback on what they like most about working with you and why?
We won’t lie: gathering the qualitative and quantitative data to back up your Employer Brand messaging can be time-consuming. But doing this work will reinforce your brand and help you attract candidates who are genuinely invested in your mission, vision, and culture (and aren’t just in it for the bonuses).
3. You can share real results and stories.
Workers today want a lot more from employment. They don’t want to clock in and clock out and collect a paycheque. They want meaningful and purposeful work, and they want to do it in a place where they feel seen, heard, valued and with people who get them.
Winning employer brands understand this and know that the best way to attract candidates to their organization is to show, not tell. For example, rather than having the same-old stock photography showing happy people in cubicles, they’re creating day-in-the-life videos that illustrate what working at their company is actually like.
Rather than sharing corporate DEI statements or diversity numbers, the best employer brands are talking about the specific actions they’re taking to build a more inclusive workspace and how they involve their employees every step of the way.
As you know, recruitment is a two-way street, and especially in this tight market, your candidates are evaluating you just as much as you’re evaluating them. Sharing actual results and stories that highlight your commitment to and investment in your employee experience is the best way to show your candidates (and existing staff) that you really care about them and want them to be successful.
It’s not too late to catch up.
Now if you’re feeling like you’re lagging behind on your Employer Brand journey, don’t be discouraged! It can take time to craft a top-notch Employer Brand, but this work is an investment that will continue to pay off for decades to come. As the famous saying goes, “The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is now.”
And of course, you don’t have to do this work alone. When you partner with Blue Ivy Group, we’ll work closely with you to craft a resilient Employer Brand that will help you attract and keep the best talent, no matter what the job market throws at you.
About Us
Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands, and high-performance cultures.
From C-Suite to Employer Brand and Talent Acquisition leadership, we partner with our clients to transform their organizations and design the most compelling workplaces of the future.
For inquiries, please contact sparker@bluivygroup.com.
