“It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.”
These are the words of renowned journalist and author Tom Brokaw. And for a significant number of today’s job seekers, employers who are committed to making a difference in their communities are equally if not more important than those who win the salary war, when candidates are deciding where to pursue their careers.
As you draft your employee value proposition (EVP), a core element in your successful employer branding strategy, keep this in mind.
More and more, both current employees and desired prospects want to work for organizations that support their communities.
- Recent research shows that 61 percent of employees prefer to work for companies that offer community volunteering opportunities. An organization that looks after its employees develops a stronger brand. That robust brand entices more people to work there, giving hiring teams a deeper talent pool to work with. And having the best people in turn makes your company a more attractive place to work, leading more desired talent your way.
- More than 90 percent of employees who participated in corporate volunteerism reported they were happy with their employers. Specific reasons cited for this satisfaction included team building, opportunities to get out of the office, and last but not least, a feeling that people were valued in the work they did.
By prioritizing community engagement and corporate volunteerism, you show potential hires that your organization values service and giving back. And, you offer outlets for team members to get involved in and drive action for the social issues they care about.
As you reinforce your community commitment, you naturally build your EVP.
It all comes down to aligning the values of your company with those of your current and future employees. When people see that a company cares about social upliftment, they feel more interested and engaged. Community volunteerism boosts morale, job satisfaction, and employer brand perception.
Here are some tips to make it happen:
- Match employee skills to volunteer initiatives. Focus on areas where these skills and reach can deliver optimal impact. For example, you might partner with a local nonprofit to offer free resume workshops or job interview preparation sessions for underrepresented groups.
- Empower your employees to give. In addition to community volunteer efforts, an employee giving program can be an effective way to enable people to contribute to their favorite charities. You can do this through payroll deductions, fundraising, crowdfunding, or in-kind giving, as a few examples.
- Communicate your company’s social responsibility efforts. Keep both current and prospective employees aware of the good work your company does. Companies that support their communities achieve higher levels of engagement than those who do not. Happier employees who find value in their company-shared volunteer efforts are more likely to remain loyal to their employers.
Community engagement is a valuable strategy in perfecting your winning EVP and building your successful employer brand. To learn more about successful branding in the staffing and executive recruiting industries, contact Haley Marketing today.
