Representing the Client’s Brand: Make Employer Branding Your Priority

It looks like the economy is starting to get a pulse again, making employer branding a top priority. Whether the marketplace is raging hot (think 2007) or on life support (think the last 2 years), employer branding is extremely important. How people are treated in the recruitment process should never be underestimated.

First impressions are lasting and word travels fast when the candidate experience is negative, disorganized or disrespectful. Communicating information about your company’s recruitment process, and what is happening with a specific position and why is the first step toward minimizing misperceptions and potential problems. Granted, internal information is often confidential. However, if you are involved in recruiting, the best course of action is to keep the conversation going and real, and not to hide from having a dialogue. Letting prospective candidates know there may be changes that could impact the role they are applying for is good business sense. They don’t need explicit details; broad brush strokes can suffice. Believe me it is a lot better than no communication at all or misleading signals. In the end, you will earn the candidate’s and the recruiter’s respect.

Any time you work with external business partners, such as executive recruiters, you need to establish how you will collaborate and how information will be communicated (phone vs. email, frequency). Keeping the conversation alive and people content with the best information that you can supply is critical. It’s all part of building your employer brand. The market is bouncing back, things are changing, and candidates are receiving multiple offers. Clients will lose their best candidates when they continue to shop or are not willing to actively engage a strong prospect. After a while, you tarnish your employer brand and make your company less attractive to top-tier talent.

Perception is key. Do you as a client present an image of “paralysis of analysis”? Don’t give the candidate marketplace the impression you can’t make a decision or aren’t willing to be upfront. I really want to hear from clients-- -- how are you representing your employer brand - How would you describe your candidates’ experience — is it working for you or does it need work?
Karen Russo www.iipe.net

Views: 131

Comment by C. B. Stalling!! on September 2, 2010 at 12:10pm
Thanks well said
Comment by Karen Russo on September 2, 2010 at 12:22pm
:) THANKS FOR READING.
Comment by Scott Godbey on September 2, 2010 at 1:45pm
Excellent article Karen! How companies interact with a particular candidate doesn't take place in a vacuum. Companies gain reputations, both good and bad, based on how they manage the hiring process.
Comment by Cyndy Trivella on September 2, 2010 at 2:05pm
Thank you for this very necessary reminder to the folks who are responsible for the employment brand of their organization or their clients' organization. I agree... perception does become reality and usually with very little effort. There so many things that can negatively or positively influence the employment brand which also includes the consumer brand (think BP employees getting attacked by strangers due to the oil spill.)

The one thing about the employment brand is this, it is never one and done! It is a part of the machine that needs honing every day. It is a constant and on-going initiative and for any organization that believes its consumer brand will not be affected by a negative employment perception, please think again.

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