Ask the Expert Blog
Making your organization more visible is a good, inexpensive way to draw in new talent. You can do this by keeping your website and social media presence up to date and by publicizing your events to local media.
Q: My organization isn’t very well known, and competition for new hires is fierce. I’d like to improve our visibility to help us attract candidates. What are some steps we can take to do that under a tight recruiting budget?
A: As the competition for new hires intensifies, it makes sense to increase your organization’s visibility to attract top candidates. There are a few ways to do this without breaking your budget.
First, be sure that your website paints you in the best possible light. Take an objective look at your site and see if it tells the story you want the world to know about your organization. Pay special attention to the careers section—and if you don’t have one, develop one as soon as possible.
Your careers section should not just list job openings. It should give prospective applicants an idea of what your organizational culture, values, and benefits are. This is also a great place to post pictures and videos of employees at work and participating in team activities.
Find a charity that your organization can support, and post pictures of your staff volunteering for them. Today’s applicants want to work for employers that are good corporate citizens, so it’s wise to showcase how your team is involved in your community.
Your careers section should not just list job openings. It should give prospective applicants an idea of what your organizational culture, values, and benefits are.
In addition to promoting your employees’ charitable work, collaborate with your PR department to drive publicity for other activities that demonstrate your organization’s commitment to your mission. Even in larger markets, you can usually gain favorable coverage of activities if you give news outlets enough notice, and in smaller markets, you may get the front page of the local paper if you plan and execute a memorable event.
LinkedIn is another effective tool for increasing visibility. By frequently posting articles about what your organization is doing and commenting on posts from other organizations, you can keep your name in front of prospective talent.
Starting a blog and using other social media platforms skillfully can also help you increase awareness of your organization and reach new people. Volunteer to write guest posts for others in your space, and post comments on other organizations’ blogs. Your organization should also have a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to drive engagement and act as an additional source for recruitment.
