Employer Brand Basics

Are you struggling to attract the right talent? You might even be getting hundreds of applications, yet it's difficult to select who to even interview, and even then the?interviews end up being even more frustrating. Where is all the great skilled talent? They can't all be taken or off the market!

People are craving transparency. We want to know exactly what we're signing ourselves up for. Being as transparent as you possibly can every step of the way will help you naturally attract the kind of people you're looking to bring into your community. And today, there are lots of ways to share what is happening at the company, within your teams, and among your employees.

Just like the personal brand, you have an employer brand whether you're aware of it or not. There is a time-old expression that says "employees are the face of your business." They are walking and talking billboards, however, you often don't get to hear what they're saying outside of the office.

The mission statement, values, vision, and culture of your company?might make for a lovely inspiring page to read on your about section but does it line up with how your employees talk, engage, work, and interact with one another?? Your should ooze through every department, organization, and team. And if so, how are you demonstrating that to the public and potential new hires?

Employer branding is breathing life into your powerful unique value proposition that usually sits static on a webpage. Nail down what you're actually about and then work on getting that message out so people can actually see it, learn about it, and maybe even want to be a part of it.

Employer branding is breathing life into your powerful unique value proposition that usually sits static on a webpage

When we ask "what makes a company great to work for?" we are guaranteed to get an answer that responds with emotions and feelings, not data, and probably not the actual product or service they're selling. What makes a work experience great is how you feel when you're doing your job. It's about recognition, affirmation, acknowledgment, trust, responsibility, support, even some risk, and yes community.

However, you can't simply say "we have a great workplace culture." That means nothing. You have to define what your culture looks like and then be able to show how you're putting your culture into practice. Culture is the intersection of ideas and behavior or action. Are you walking the talk or are you selling me with your words only to be met with a high turnover rate because it's not the environment your candidates think they'll be walking into.

Culture is the intersection of ideas and behavior or action

What are you winning your team to?

Let's move beyond the job description and your company website and let's get creative with all the tools you have already on hand.

The secret is being willing to get visible. And I mean really visible. And the best way to get visible is to mobilize your workforce to start sharing. LinkedIn is the perfect place to get started. Not only allow, but encourage your employees to start sharing on LinkedIn. Get conversations going with people who not only reach out to you, but that you reach out to as well because of their profile and experience.

Show your network and your employees' network, and their friends' networks how your company works and what it's really like. Let the strongest asset of your company, your people, be a real living walking sharing example of talent, personality, and relatability.

Enlive your mission, values, vision, and culture through your online presence leveraging the incredible team you already have, and start attracting the right talent into your network and community.