New Year's Resolutions for HR and Talent Acquisition Professionals

Welcome to 2014. The economic outlook predicts that competition for talent will increase, making this one of the most challenging years for recruiting in recent memory. How can your company stand out and attract the most talented workers?

For friends of Brandemix in talent acquisition, I've analyzed some recent trends and found there are three pressing issues for recruiters in the coming year. Make one, two, or all three of these your New Year's resolutions and watch your company make better hires.

Invest in employer branding
An employer brand is the promise your company makes to employees. It communicates your vision as an organization and the employees' role in realizing it. A strong, compelling employer brand attracts top talent, retains them, and helps them perform to their best abilities. It also increases referrals, decreases turnover, and drives profits. 

The best employer brands come from research. Communications audits and anonymous surveys make a good start; employee focus groups and executive interviews are even better. From these findings, you'll discover why employees choose to work for your company, why they stay, and even why they leave. You'll learn the C-suite's long-term goals. And you'll see the company's values clearly emerge. None of this has to cost a lot of money: a basic research plan's price is around $10,000. This can be the year you make a bold statement to job-seekers and take a unique position in the job market. Download a FREE copy of our Employer Branding Strategy Guide.

Add social media to your recruiting
78% of recruiters have made a hire through social media, and 29% of job-seekers found their favorite job through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Social media is a great way to communicate your employer brand, keep your company top of mind, and engage with the most attractive job-seekers -- even passive ones. Make 2014 the year you put a significant effort into social recruiting.

Already on Facebook? Add Twitter. Already on Twitter? Take the next step to Pinterest or Instagram. Mastered those? Get on YouTube and start creating videos. Reach out to job-seekers by showing and telling how your employer brand differentiates you and you'll create a unique connection with your desired audience. Download a FREE copy of our Social Media Strategy Guide for Talent Acquisition.

Make your careers site mobile-friendly
Here are some amazing facts: 31% of searches for "jobs" come from mobile devices. But many careers sites aren't optimized for mobile -- and 65% of job-seekers will simply leave a site if it's hard to use on their mobile device; 40% will even have a negative opinion of that company. This doesn't just apply to entry-level positions, either, as 65% of applicants to executive positions use tablets.

As phone, tablets, and "phablets" become more popular, this demographic is only going to increase. If your site isn't optimized for mobile (also known as "responsive design"), you're conceding a large pool of talent to your competition. This year, it's time to not only to match your competitors but to leave them behind, with a mobile site that's clear, easy, and even fun to use.

Ready to rock 2014?
If you'd like to learn more about how Brandemix can help with your employer branding, social recruiting, or mobile websites, contact us, and one of our experts will be in touch.

I hope you and your entire recruiting team have a great year.