The job market in 2018 is competitive.
We're currently experiencing a market like never before, with record low levels of unemployment and competition around every corner. The available talent pool are so spoilt for choice, and you and your competitors are all fishing from the same pond. Top job seekers have the world to choose from, and they're always going to choose businesses who present themselves the best.
So unless you're head and shoulders above the rest, the chances are you're missing out on the best talent to your competitors.
And the worst part of it is that most businesses don't even know that they're on the back foot. Sure, you may not be happy with the amount you spend on recruitment, but have you considered that you could not only be saving money but also be getting better quality candidates? Rather than think about what you're getting from your current recruitment process, think about what you're not getting.
So many businesses are missing out on the very best applicants by making a very basic mistake;
Not using branded advertisements.
Branding is one of the key focus points for any business that wants to grab the best candidates. If you want to get noticed, you need to scream your employer brand from the rooftops.
The businesses with the best branding always attract the best candidates. This is especially important in terms of actual job advertisements.
Here are some key statistics to digest;
Job advertisements that feature company branding receive 43% more applicants than non-branded adverts. Not only that, but 67% of job seekers are more likely to apply to brands they recognise.
Branding makes your advert pop. It adds a sense of trust, reduces risk, and makes them feel more connected to your brand.
Your branding should be at the forefront of your advertisements, and your advertisements should be on the most relevant job boards. A study by Reed shows that 52% of job seekers go straight to job boards when looking for new roles.
So consider the following situation. A talented, driven prospect goes on a job hunt for their next opportunity. They decide to browse a few job boards for related roles and they see 10 job ads that fit what they're looking for. 8 of these job ads don't feature the name of the employer, and follow the lines of "Our client is...", whilst the other 2 showcase the employer's name and logo. They compel the reader and show them why it's great to work for. The reader does their research on the businesses and starts to think "I could see myself working here".
Which role would you naturally gravitate towards?
A study shows that around 80% of job seekers will research the company they're applying to before considering whether to apply. If you've got no employer branding, a good portion of that 80% may not even consider your opportunity. So the remaining talent pool is slim pickings.
"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it. The goal is not to hire people who need a job, it's to hire people who believe what you believe.
If you hire people just because they can do a job, they will work for your money. If you hire people who believe what you believe they will work for you with blood, sweat and tears"
- Simon Sinek, TEDxPuget Sound, September 2009