The focus on company culture has steadily risen over the years. HR professionals and organizations worldwide have, with the help of research, studies, and data, come to the realization that their purpose and what the company stands for are more important than ever. Not only does culture directly affect the bottom line, but it has also become a driving force when it comes to attracting top talent to fill open roles. As candidates become more selective with their career opportunities, evaluating an organization’s culture will continue to drive their decisions.
Regardless of the industry, the teams and people running the daily operations of a business are their biggest assets. Providing these employees with the proper environment, and one that ties closely to their values goes hand in hand. Additionally, cultivating a desirable culture and enjoyable workplace has direct impacts on the bottom line and production. According to a recent Forbes article, companies with strong cultures have seen a 4x increase in revenue growth and higher average annual returns.
So then, how do you, as a business, recruiter, or talent acquisition professional help attract top talent with your company culture? In the following, we have broken down a few actionable ideas that can immediately assist in those efforts.
Analyze your current company culture
First and foremost, getting a good gauge of where your culture is and how it is perceived by employees and potential hires is important. Culture is fluid and is the result of many days, months, and years of changes within. How do you go about this? First, scour social media and sites like Glassdoor to hear what employees are saying, both positive and negative. Talk to your current employees to see how they feel about their schedules, collaboration, advancement opportunities, and other driving factors for recruitment.
Next, dig deeper into the interview and onboarding processes to discuss these factors with candidates that are hired, and even with those that do not accept a role. This can be a treasure trove of important feedback that can help you analyze the impact your company culture is having on hiring. Regardless of what you hear and the insights steps like these can reveal, using this knowledge to reshape, solidify, and improve upon your existing culture will in turn attract top talent moving forward.
Utilize brand ambassadors to amplify your culture
One surefire method for amplifying your company culture, which in turn will attract top talent, is through the use of brand ambassadors. A brand ambassador is an employee who endorses or promotes a particular company, its products, or its services. Therefore, all of your employees are brand ambassadors that can help recruiting efforts. For one, encourage these employees to share their experiences. This includes social media, like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and others. Additionally, sharing their reviews on sites like Glassdoor is a great way for potential talent to have an inside look at your culture before applying for a job.
This user-generated content can be in the form of photos, animated GIFs, fun boomerangs, and videos. Be creative, have fun, and show the personality of the staff and day-to-day operations. Be sure to include any team-building events, collaborations, or other unique aspects that potential candidates would find interesting. Provide the necessary training and tools to your employees to maximize their efforts.
A quick tip: Comparably makes the process of revealing company culture and getting that content in front of the right audience quick and easy. As part of the company’s Employer Branding Tools, customizable social media assets give users a plethora of marketing assets to highlight your company culture.
Focus on teamwork and development
Want your employees to thrive and enjoy their time at work, whether work is performed in the office or virtually? One of the most important ways is by involving them with projects, assignments, research, and other important aspects that help the company grow. A team-based approach, versus individual responsibilities or tasks, is preferential for many. This collaboration helps employees build confidence and relationships that ultimately define your culture.
In addition, the desire for advancement opportunities and mentorship is a key deciding factor for top talent. Organizations that have systems and resources in place to help train and develop from within have a much better chance at bringing on additional external talent that wants to join a well-run team. Especially true for new hires, having a mentorship program in place also reduces churn and can help increase referrals of other talented individuals that may fit well within the company itself.
Every business, regardless of size and industry, must focus on developing and maintaining a favorable culture that will attract customers and additional talent. When done effectively, your company culture will work effortlessly, attracting the best fit individuals that will help propel the company to new heights. Utilizing the above tips and spending the necessary time and resources to continually learn and improve upon these beneficial traits is more important than ever.
