A guide to attract the best candidates

We all know, attracting top talent is more challenging than ever. Potential candidates are researching companies online before they even consider applying (70% to be exact!), so your employer brand must stand out.

In this article, I explain ways to enhance your company’s online presence, use employee testimonials effectively, and maintain consistency to make a lasting impression on the best candidates!

Enhance your online presence

Your company’s digital footprint is often the first point of call for job seekers. To ensure that you are attracting the right talent, you must actively shape and enhance your online presence.

So, I’ve come up with some tips…

1. Optimise your careers page – Your website should not only list job openings but also tell your company’s story. Highlight your missions, values, and culture in a compelling way. Use visuals like photos and videos to really showcase your workplace environment and company culture.
2. Leverage your social media channels – Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook offer a space to show behind the scenes insights into your organisation. Share posts about company events, employee accomplishments, and community involvement. Engaging content reflects a thriving, employee-first, workplace.
3. Invest in SEO – Candidates often search for roles on Google before heading to job boards. Make sure your job postings are search engine optimised, using relevant keywords that describe the position and your company culture.

Use employee testimonials and reviews

Job seekers trust the voices of current and former employees. Positive reviews and testimonials can help validate your company’s reputation and build trust. Here are a few ways to incorporate them effectively…

1. Encourage employees to leave reviews – Platforms like Glassdoor provide candidates with a glimpse of what it’s like to work at your company. Encourage employees to leave authentic and tangible reviews about their experiences, focusing on the company culture, growth opportunities, and management style.
2. Feature testimonials on your website – Create a section on your career page for employee stories. Videos, in particular are impactful! They provide a personal connection to potential hires. Remember to represent different roles and departments within your company!
3. Share testimonials on social media – Turn employee testimonials into social media posts or stories. You can even start a series of posts like “Employee Spotlight” to regularly highlight individual stories and achievements, giving potential candidates a clear picture of what they can expect if they join your team.

Be consistent

The consistency of your employer branding is key to building trust with candidates. A strong, consistent brand communicates that you have a stable and cohesive work environment, which is of course appealing to job seekers.

Here’s why it matters…

1. Create a unified message – Whether a candidate is reading your job posting, browsing your website, or following your social media, the tone, values, and messaging should align.
2. Strengthens your reputation – Consistent employer branding helps build a recognisable image over time. When candidates see your company consistently showing up with the same message about culture, values, and opportunity, it strengthens your credibility.
3. Reduce employee turnover – When your employer brand accurately reflects your company culture, the candidates you attract are more likely to align with your values and expectations. This helps reduce turnover by ensuring that new hires are a better fit for your organisation from the start!

Standing out to top candidates requires more than just offering competitive salaries and benefits. It’s about showcasing your company as a desirable place to work through a strong, consistent employer brand.

If you’d like further support in building a strong employer brand to attract the best and most aligned candidates to your business – get in touch! Our team would be more than happy to help.