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Employment Branding Report 2022

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1. A note from our CEO

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Introduction

If I had to describe the last 12 months in one word, it’s “change.”

We’ve seen more change in the last year than many of us have seen in a lifetime. The way we work hasn’t just changed; it’s completely transformed. It’s had a huge impact on the employment landscape. Pre-pandemic, the talent market was constrained, and many companies were already grappling with skills shortages. But now, severe skills shortages aren’t just reserved for certain industries. All sectors are experiencing skills shortages – including recruitment. I know all too well the challenges employers are facing. Skills shortages combined with rising inflation, changing candidate and employee expectations and a record number of job openings are taxing talent acquisition teams.
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Companies must differentiate from their hiring competition, and a solid employment brand is critical.
John Wilson, CEO
Just as the times have changed, so has our award-winning employment brand report. Because more than 90% of businesses are small and medium enterprises, we decided to widen our analysis to include these organizations. The results have shown us that it’s not just the Fortune 500 that excel at employment branding. Smaller companies are holding their own and often find themselves competing for the same talent. I’ve long talked about the importance of a robust employment branding strategy (we’ve been evaluating and analyzing employment brands since 2014). But I can’t express how important it is in today’s climate. Companies must differentiate from their hiring competition, and a solid employment brand is critical.
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The caveat, of course, is that it must truly align with your employee value proposition (EVP). If your employment brand positions you as an employer of choice (and that’s the ultimate aim), well done. However, if your employee experience is poor, it’s a moot point. You can’t have one without the other. The companies that excel in employment branding all have one thing in common, regardless of size. They understand the need to put humans first. If you treat people well and have an employment brand that truly aligns to your employee experience, you’ll find it a lot easier to attract and retain the talent you need to grow your business. My hope is that this report will help you on your journey to positioning your company as an employer of choice.

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2. It’s a talent driven market

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The current market climate

Record job vacancies, global skills shortages, high turnover rates, changing candidate and employee expectations and high inflation are all having an impact – simultaneously. As a global community, the last two years have consisted of one historical event after another that resulted in a talent market like no other.

Because of the constant change, the solutions to the employer brand challenges we all faced felt more like reactive fixes than long-term, strategic solutions. Fortunately, things are starting to look up. Many companies are putting a renewed focus on their employee value propositions (EVPs), improving working conditions, increasing compensation and emphasizing workplace health and well-being.

With people as the focus, the path forward to a modern employment brand has become clear.

Candidate mindset is shifting

It’s important to note that the fundamentals of employment branding haven’t changed, but the psychology and behavior of jobseekers have. The pandemic gave people the chance to reflect on their lives and re-evaluate what’s important to them. This means your employee experience has no doubt changed, but does it still align with your employment brand? It’s now time for companies to modernize their employment brands.
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Demand is outpacing supply

A lot of companies are in the process of expanding their workforces, so demand for talent is high; it’s far surpassing supply. We expect this to continue. Demand for contingent talent has also increased, which means employment brands must appeal to all segments of workers. More organizations are taking a total talent approach to talent acquisition, and rightly so. However, many are not taking this approach with employment brand. This needs to change.
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3. Six things people REALLY want from their employers

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Flexibility in ALL things work-related

Flexibility at work isn’t just about working remotely, although that’s often a popular request. People want to choose working hours that fit around their lives, whether that’s four 10-hour working days or the flexibility to work hours outside the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In a recent survey, 81% of respondents said the top reason they want flexible jobs is to improve their work-life balance, while 70% said working virtually would improve their mental health.

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A real work-life balance

Work-life balance is continually cited as a top-five priority for employees. However, many employers think that if they implement a remote working policy, employees will automatically have a better work-life balance. It doesn’t work like that. Employees at remote-friendly companies are 32% more likely to say they struggle with work-life balance. Employers, therefore, need to ensure their workforce has clear boundaries in place between work and home life. Burnout is real: 41% of workers feel burnt out from work, so it’s important to put measures in place to address it. Well-being programs can help and managers need to be aware of the signs of burnout, so they can step in to help team members who are feeling overwhelmed.

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To be able to further their careers

The ability to learn and develop has become a key driver for people considering new roles. So much so that 37% of candidates said they’d be willing to take a pay cut for a chance to learn new skills. Further, the same percentage said that upskilling opportunities are the most important factor when considering a new role, after compensation and benefits. Comprehensive L&D programs play an important role in internal mobility; they help decrease time to hire and reduce recruitment costs. Because internal candidates already know what to expect from their organization, employee satisfaction and retention levels remain high.

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To truly belong

Employees want to feel a sense of belonging in the workplace: 62% of jobseekers said they would be more likely to apply for a job if a company is openly committed to improving diversity and inclusion within their workforce. The most important part is how you operationalize it though. Employees and candidates will see right through it if what you say doesn’t align with what you do. Create a culture that encourages all employees to bring their true selves to work. You can do this by including employees of all levels together in your planning, processes and programs. This provides them with the opportunity to have their say. Simply put, everyone’s voice should be heard.

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The ability to positively impact society

It is no longer acceptable for companies just to make money; 88% of employees said companies must positively impact society as well. What does this mean for employers trying to attract and retain talent? It means you must be vocal about where you stand on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. Let your employees guide what causes you get involved in as passion fuels participation. And document the progress you’re making clearly too so candidates can see it’s a long-term commitment you’ve made to make the world a better place.

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Be part of a company that really cares

Well-being was ranked a top workforce trend by 80% of respondents in a recent study. While there are many outlets for well-being, such as virtual exercise sessions, money management webinars or healthy eating contests, the most important thing is for employers to practice empathy. Training leaders to operate with understanding and compassion will positively impact culture and improve retention. After all, employees are humans first and want to be treated with respect.

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4. Breathe life into your brand through your people

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Recruitment marketing

Effective recruitment marketing is no longer about documenting the past with heavily curated content. Instead, companies that live in the moment and let their brands speak through their people are the ones that get noticed. Let employees do the talking on the platforms that matter most to them. By encouraging people to authentically share their career stories, companies bring their employment brands to life. And the enthusiasm to share becomes contagious – not just among the employees sharing their experiences, but the candidates who want to be a part of it. Put simply, recruitment marketing efforts should stop people in their tracks and lead them to take action, whether it’s to join your talent community or apply for a job.

What does scroll-stopping recruitment marketing look like?

Cisco stood out for its ability to humanize its recruitment marketing content; it lets employees tell their career stories. Given that candidates trust the voice of employees 3x more than CEOs, this is a game-changer. When companies, like Cisco, give their employees a voice, they are communicating at a deeper level that they put people above all else.
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The power of employee voice

In the social media example to the left, a Cisco employee talks about how they appreciate the work-life balance at the company. The post evokes emotion, especially for parents trying to find a healthy work-life balance. This is critical today when you consider 57% of respondents in a recent survey said a lack of healthy work-life boundaries would prevent them from applying or accepting a job and even influence them to quit.

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What does the research tell us about employee blog content?

Employee-authored blog posts showcase company culture. And, because they’re written by employees rather than marketing teams, they come across as more authentic. Each one has a unique voice and their own story to tell. Interestingly, small and medium-sized organizations are the most likely to feature employee-authored blog content, which is no doubt because larger companies have more of a hold on their branding guidelines and, therefore, more control of blog content.

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5. Validate your employment brand with accolades

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Why use accolades?

Accolades can help differentiate one company from another. Awards provide third-party validation, so we were surprised that companies still aren’t taking advantage of an easy win. Employers should place details of award wins prominently throughout their career sites. It’s not wishful thinking to say an award could be the reason why a candidate chooses your company over another; it’s fact.

In it together

Collaborative Solutions describes itself as award-winning (a lot of companies do) but backs its claims by showing a selection of the honors it has received on its career site. The third-party validation goes a long way. The awards are mostly related to being a great place to work – a natural choice when trying to promote yourself as an employer of choice. The company knows what appeals to candidates as both topics are key drivers for today’s jobseekers. 
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Award-winning flexibility

Dell Technologies draws attention to its accolades with strategically placed award logos throughout its career site. The company has details of its flexible working program on its career page and a logo for its 2021 Top 100 Remote Work Company to Watch award next to it. It provides third-party validation for its claim of being a flexible workplace. The tech company also chose to promote its recognition related to it being an ethical company and a best place to work award for LGBTQ on its career site. All three are awards for topics that today’s candidates feel strongly about; the company certainly knows its audience.
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What does the research tell us about awards?

Our research showed that medium-sized companies typically had information about their current awards easily accessible from their career sites, but fewer had diversity-related awards than we expected. It was the other way around for large companies: fewer current awards, but a higher percentage related to diversity. The results suggest larger companies are more concerned about the visibility of their diversity efforts, which is not surprising when you consider 86% of global candidates say diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace is important to them.

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6. Reaction to the market – and sentiment

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Corporate social responsibility

We’ve long known that a strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) program can help to attract and retain talent, but the pandemic has further raised awareness of how important this is to people. In a recent study, 66% of people said that moments like the pandemic have caused them to care more about how their company acts. In addition, 60% of respondents revealed they’d take a pay cut to work at a company that has a strong purpose. HubSpot understands the importance of CSR and ESG and includes details of its sustainability report in a prominent location on its careers site. The company is doing its best to differentiate itself as a corporate citizen, while giving candidates an incentive to hit the apply button.
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The role CSR plays in talent attraction and retention

People want to work for purpose- driven companies. Environmental and social concerns have long been a driver for candidates and employees, so drawing attention to these is a must. Employers should demonstrate progress and the true impact of their CSR goals.
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Playing it forward

Nike stands out as a purpose-driven company. The sports giant weaves its stance on protecting the world throughout its career content. It uses bold terminology to show how important this matter is to them. The company includes details about how it hopes to achieve its CSR and ESG goals, as well as metrics that details their progress. This shows candidates that it’s not just saying what it thinks people want to hear, it really does take CSR seriously – and has the evidence to back this up.
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What does our research tell us about CSR?

Our findings suggest that many employers still don’t understand the importance of CSR to candidates and employees. Of the companies evaluated that excelled in CSR, 91% were large businesses. The results indicate larger companies understand their CSR efforts will likely be under closer scrutiny (from not just candidates, but employees, shareholders and customers). It’s also worth noting that some of the smaller companies that were evaluated are built around services or solutions that have CSR built into their mission, such as sustainable energy and public health.

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7. Evoke emotion and remain transparent

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Career promotion and job advertising

Successful advertising relies heavily on human emotion – and career promotion is no exception. Companies must focus on the human element of employment brand through relevant, timely content. Our research found that most brands have the information that candidates want but it’s not evoking feelings of excitement and connection. Transparency is of utmost importance, so employees and candidates feel like they’re part of the bigger picture. When it comes to DEIB, they want to know what goals are in place and they expect regular updates on progress. However, only 38% of respondents in a recent survey by Fishbowl reported receiving progress updates about DEIB from their employers. Everyone must be part of the conversation.

In tune with candidate desires

Universal Music Group (UMG) certainly understands the power of branding. Its career site is eye-catching, streamlined and uses employee images throughout. The navigation is simple too. UMG’s benefits program, aptly called a “perks playlist,” suggests employees get to pick the benefits that matter most to them. All these elements show UMG takes the candidate experience seriously. 
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Taking a candidate-first approach

In promoting its career opportunities, Nugget Markets effectively features sustainability and career growth. Its career site is inviting and simple to navigate with plenty of employee photos — ones relevant and reflective of real life, as they feature masked employees. The company also uses clear and timely video employee testimonials on social and sign-on bonuses prominently located on its careers site. This differentiates Nugget Markets while further incentivizing candidates to apply. 

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An additional note:

Chatbots can accelerate the candidate journey, but not all companies need them. Our research found larger companies were twice as likely to have a chatbot compared to medium companies, and six times more likely compared to small companies. This makes sense as small companies are less likely to be dealing with the same volume of candidates as their larger counterparts, and are more likely to hire through direct networking. Large companies also have bigger budgets to invest in chatbot technology.

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8. Simple navigation pays off

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What makes a good
career page?

Best-in-class career sites focus on moving candidates to the next stage of the hiring process. The objective is to give candidates the information they need to convert then and there. Strategically placed prompts throughout can help to persuade candidates to apply or join talent communities.
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Candidate-first mindset

UnitedHealth Group’s career site is designed like a resource hub for new career seekers. It segments open roles based on job type with dedicated sections for each. Its talent team knows career promotion with employee video testimonials, a chatbot, an employee blog with a wide range of topics and a Glassdoor profile link for added transparency. 
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An additional note

Our research revealed just 7% of the organizations evaluated had accessibility settings within their career pages. In the US, 26% of adults have a disability, so employers with career sites that aren’t accessible could potentially be missing out on a large pool of talent. In addition, employers could also be opening themselves up to legal risk as career sites that aren’t accessible risk breaching the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Squaring up

Box’s career site provides a frictionless, personalized candidate experience by segmenting roles. It notifies applicants they’ll receive a response within three days with an option to receive weekly job alerts for similar roles. Its employee videos and job descriptions give a glimpse into what being an employee is really like, further encouraging its objective to convert candidates. 
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Box took the No.6 spot in Glassdoor’s 2022 Best Places to Work rankings. Every year, the review site recognizes the top 100 employers dedicated to cultivating a best-in-class company culture.
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What did the research tell us about career site navigation?

The most accessible employment content on company sites found by our team of researchers included details on well-being initiatives (average number of clicks to access was 1.1), followed by workplace culture (1.2 clicks) and employee perks (1.4 clicks). This is logical given these are the topics candidates want to know most about when considering a career move. Some employment topics took 2.8 clicks to reach (pay equity policies/initiatives), which may mean candidates never reach it. Think about your own online experience. Have you ever abandoned an online cart because the process seems to go on and on?

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9. Striking the right balance

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Employee and candidate perspectives

When it comes to employee and candidate perspectives, consistency is key regardless of business size. Candidates don’t want to be bamboozled with corporate content; instead, they want authenticity. And this is why employee-generated content (in real-time) plays such a pivotal role in employment branding.

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Taking a candidate-first approach

Stryker’s career site hosts multiple employee-generated videos. Most feature employees in self-shot videos talking about their typical day for a more authentic feel (compared to a highly edited corporate video). The company's career blog also features a mix of employee stories, career advice and Q&As so candidates have a chance to get a real feel for the company culture. 

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An additional note

TikTok launched a pilot program featuring a new channel for recruitment and job discovery in July 2021. Jobseekers could apply for roles with a TikTok video resume. The pilot only ran in the US with a select number of companies, but we expect this to be rolled out more widely at some point this year. If you’re recruitment team isn’t well- versed on TikTok, start exploring so they can get up to speed and capitalize on the recruitment benefits the platform brings.

Why ditching the jargon speak volumes

Bitwise Industries is a software consulting firm that takes a transparent approach to diversity hiring by speaking directly to candidates. Its job descriptions list diversity stats as a way of showing inclusion is at the heart of business operations. It’s also an effective way to attract all kinds of talent – even for those without a tech background. Prioritizing diversity at the top of the page before it goes into required technologies and job responsibilities creates interest and differentiation in its space from other tech start-ups and firms. This is perfect for a company that fills talent gaps in the tech space through upskilling opportunities.

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What did the research tell us about employee testimonials?

When it comes to employee testimonials in video format, the findings of our research showed small and medium-sized companies were the most likely to feature videos that felt authentic, compared to their larger counterparts, which preferred professionally produced content. While this might seem like a resources issue, having unpolished videos is actually beneficial. It feels more authentic and relatable to viewers. Overly produced, corporate video content can often give the impression that an employer is unapproachable or distant. Shorter videos – we’re talking 60 seconds or fewer – that are natural and unscripted are more impactful, especially if they allow for an emotional connection.

People are twice as likely to share video content with their friends than any other type of content, including social media posts, product pages and blog posts/articles. However, the results of our research revealed that just 26% of the companies we evaluated had video testimonials. We expected this figure to be a lot higher. On a positive note, all the companies that had video testimonials featured someone from a visible diversity demographic. Highlighting diversity at the very start of a candidate’s journey is vital, especially when you consider one in three employees and jobseekers (32%) would not apply to a job at companies where there is a lack of diversity among their workforces.

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10. Conclusion

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Modernize your brand

The demand for talent will continue to outstrip supply for the foreseeable future– and beyond. Companies that treat their people well will find it easier to attract and retain talent. But as workplaces and candidate expectations evolve, so too must employment brands. Review your employment brand continuously and benchmark it against your competitors to see how you can differentiate your company and position as an employer of choice. It should truly align with your employee value proposition (EVP) and the employee experience. Be sure to promote your employment brand on the platforms favored by potential candidates or your company will struggle to find the talent it needs to excel in the future.

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11. Mile markers for a modern employer brand

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Employee value proposition

The needs and desires of talent has changed, and your EVP must evolve to reflect that. Talk to your employees, analyze engagement data, read your employer reviews and listen to the talent market. Then take an objective look at your EVP and determine if you are delivering on employees' expectations. 
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Employee stories

Stand-out talent brands are authentic and bold in their approach to storytelling. They embrace self-expression, emphasize diversity and are not afraid to offer a glimpse into the present moment. Modern employer brands create content that has a more individualized, spontaneous and down to earth feel by giving their people the platform to share their stories in their own way.
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Career sites

Applying for a job should be a simple experience. Modern employer brands have a intimate understanding of what happens when talent interacts with their career site. The best career sites are clutter free, easy to navigate and have multiple conversion points. A more minimalist approach to recruitment marketing content garners greater attention and brings them there.
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Channels

The number of social media users (across all generations in the workforce) are scrolling through stories. Talent brands that use a range of social platforms (established and new-to-market) to tell their stories will reach a bigger audience. Tried and tested isn’t always best when it comes to social media promotion; you may have to step outside your comfort zone.
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Talent community

Employer branding doesn’t stop at application or opt-in. Modern employment brands extend their relationship with candidate prospects through their talent communities by integrating a range of content genres within their engagement strategies.

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12. Companies evaluated

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Here's those that excelled

For this year's report, we evaluated hundreds of companies of all industries and backgrounds. After aggregating our thousands of data points, these are the ones that stood out across large, medium and small companies and the strengths and opportunities we saw from each.

Large companies (>5,000 employees)

It’s no surprise that large companies have access to bigger budgets and teams to allocate for employment brand awareness. But, because of their size, they risk talent feeling “lost in the mix,” which leads to a disconnected employee experience. To combat this, allocate large-scale resources toward creating smaller-scale talent experiences. Uphold unique and engaging EVPs to specific talent groups that give your organization’s culture a more intimate feel with all the benefits that come from being one of the bigger firms.

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Medium companies (>1,000 employees)

Mid-sized companies may appear to have the best of both worlds, but challenges often persist around growing pains. How can you scale the candidate experience or deal with shifting priorities and budgets? These companies must spotlight industry differentiators in their EVP and showcase authenticity in their company culture. Prioritize employee testimonial videos and be transparent about room for advancement. The right talent will be invigorated by the chance to become a part of your growth.

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Small companies (<1,000 employees)

Just because you’re small doesn’t mean you can’t be mighty. Smaller companies have more agility and can leverage their unique voice and EVP creatively in ways that bigger companies can’t match. Startups suffer from limited recruitment technology options due to tight budgets and smaller hiring volumes; justifying those expenses upfront can be challenging. Smaller companies should push their advantage with a human-centric approach to the candidate experience. This will ensure a more connected and positive experience, boosting word of mouth and company advocates.

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All the companies we evaluated

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13. Methodology

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2022 Employment Branding Report methodology updates

This year’s report contains some major changes to our analysis. Because more than 90% of businesses are small and medium enterprises, we decided to widen our analysis to include these organizations. The results have shown us that it’s not just the Fortune 500 that excel at employment branding. Smaller companies are holding their own and often find themselves competing for the same talent. Changes in the workplace have necessitated we adjust our analysis to reflect jobseeker behavior. As always, these methodology updates come from a jobseeker’s point of view as we answer the question: What are candidates truly looking for? Or, more appropriately, what are candidates now demanding?
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Recruitment marketing (19 points)

We increased the number of points in this category from 17 to 19 this year. This change comes from the influx of organizations offering mental health programs and remote work opportunities due to the pandemic. More than 54% of employers lowered or waived costs for virtual mental health services in 2021, annual survey data from Business Group on Health revealed. This increased focus on mental health was already gaining traction before the pandemic and has no signs of stopping anytime soon. Between these findings and our own research, companies with these offerings were seen as attractive employers, so we added points to account for this change.

  • Company blog on company website
  • Career-specific social media pages on company website
  • Video employee testimonials on career website
  • Information on benefits, wellness, company perks and culture on career website
  • Mental health-specific benefits and programs on career website
  • Veteran recruitment program
  • University recruitment program
  • Remote/virtual recruitment on career website
  • Pay equity policy on company website
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) recruitment efforts
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Career promotion and job advertising (13 points)

This category experienced rapid changes since companies had to be more strategic in how job descriptions were posted and communicated. Formerly just “career advertising,” this category jumped from six to 13 points. It’s no longer about where you have job postings, but what you say and how you say it in a way that entices your ideal candidates. Employees are now more concerned about how they can make a difference in a role and feel like they belong, not just the responsibilities and credentials involved. The criteria includes:

  • Job descriptions on career website 
  • Job posting readability  
  • Presence of job postings across specific job boards 
  • Social media posts via organic promotion 
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Career pages (18 points)

Having a good user experience (UX) is of primary importance when it comes to candidates applying or jobs – as many will abandon applications without a seamless UX. Scaled back from 24 to 18 points, this category was updated to focus on the use of technology throughout the candidate journey — from research and application to their start date. The criteria includes:
  • Career website and mobile accessibility 
  • Ability to customize accessibility settings on career website 
  • Talent community/network 
  • Ability to communicate via chatbot or pre-application on career website 
  • Application and interview process on career website 
  • Easy-to-navigate career-related content on career website 
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Employee and candidate perspectives (38 points)

Unsurprisingly, employee reviews remain an essential part of the candidate journey with only a one-point difference from last year (39 to 38). Research from LinkedIn reveals that candidates trust employees 3x more than a company to provide credible information about what it’s like to work at a company, so employee-generated content is an absolute must. We’ve also factored diversity into our scoring here, as candidates want evidence that their prospective company cares about inclusivity and belonging. The criteria includes:
  • Glassdoor culture and values rating, work-life balance rating, compensation and benefits rating, career opportunities rating and diversity rating 
  • CareerBliss rating 
  • Company rating on Indeed 
  • Indeed culture and values rating, work-life balance rating, compensation and benefits rating, career opportunities rating 
  • Comparably culture rating and diversity rating 
  • Recognized by CandE Awards 
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Accolades (4 points)

Rewards weren’t a main priority while companies bounced back from the pandemic this past year, so the points in this category were adjusted from seven to four. Social justice causes, diversity awards and great place to work awards still proved to differentiate and provide morale for employees – so we’ve maintained a scale that addresses this. The criteria includes:

  • Accolades accessible from the career website 
  • Diversity-focused accolades 
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Corporate social responsibility (CSR) (8 points)

With the publication of the 2030 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CSR has become more important than ever for candidates. This is especially true for millennials; according to the, almost 85% believe making a positive difference in the world is more important than professional recognition. While this is true for millennials, all generations now want to feel like they’re making a positive impact. We increased this category by one point, from seven to eight points. The criteria includes:
  • 2030 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promotion 
  • Community development programs/initiatives 
  • Sustainability/environmentally friendly 
  • Social justice and equality promotion 
  • Early education programs and promotion 

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