Creative employer branding: how to stand out from the competition

Creative employer branding is becoming increasingly important in order to attract qualified applicants and retain them in the long term. But how exactly can a company set itself apart from the competition and attract applicants?

Attracting and retaining talent

Employer branding refers to the strategic measures that a company takes to position itself as an attractive employer and strengthen its image as an employer brand. A strong employer brand has a positive effect on the recruitment and retention of talented employees. Companies with a well-established employer brand are often perceived as more attractive by applicants. Most well-known companies such as Google, Apple and Nike have successfully invested in their employer brand, enabling them to stand out from other employers and gain a competitive advantage.

Strategies for authentic employer branding

Successful employer branding should authentically reflect the corporate culture, values and working environment. It should highlight the company's individual strengths and special features and convey a clear message that appeals to potential applicants. Creative employer branding strategies could include the use of storytelling, employee testimonials, interactive recruiting events, employer branding videos or the integration of social media campaigns. By communicating these unique aspects in a targeted way, a company can build a strong employer brand and attract talented employees in the long term.

Below are six creative employer branding strategies that can help you attract candidates and make a lasting impression.

01. Creative recruiting events

You can organize creative recruiting events to attract potential applicants and position your company as an attractive employer. For example, you could organize an interactive workshop event or a virtual career fair to attract talent and bring the corporate culture to life.

02. Employee Takeovers on Social Media

Another innovative strategy is to give employees the opportunity to take over the company social media account for a day. Employees can provide insights into their day-to-day work, share team activities and present the company culture in an authentic way. This not only strengthens employee engagement, but also shows potential applicants a real insight into the company.

03. Virtual company tours

By creating virtual tours of offices or production facilities, potential applicants can gain an authentic insight into your company. This interactive experience not only provides transparency, but also shows the corporate culture and working environment in an innovative way.

04. Personalized welcome gifts

Provide personalized welcome gifts for new employees. This could be a personalized mug with the employee's name or a welcome package with individual goodies. This gesture makes employees feel valued and connected to the company right from the start.

05. Employee referral programs

Implement a rewards-based employee referral program to encourage your current employees to refer talented candidates for open positions. This not only boosts employee engagement, but also attracts qualified candidates who have already been referred by your employees.

06. Optimize candidate experience

Another important aspect is the candidate experience - the experience that applicants have during the entire application process. The candidate experience plays a crucial role in employer branding, as it has a significant influence on whether potential applicants perceive the company as an attractive employer and recommend it to their network. Transparent communication, a smooth application process and a respectful demeanor throughout the application process can increase the commitment and satisfaction of applicants. A positive candidate experience therefore helps you to attract and retain talented employees in the long term.

Applicant management software can help you to ensure a positive candidate experience. By automating processes such as application tracking, scheduling and feedback management, applicants can be guided through the application process more efficiently and transparently. In addition, applicant management software enables you to collect and evaluate relevant data and information in order to continuously optimize the application process and respond to the needs of applicants.

Internal and external commitment for sustainable success

As a company, it is important to continuously work on the employer brand and not only actively communicate it to the outside world, but also to strengthen it internally. Regular employee feedback, internal training measures and an open corporate culture are just a few examples of how you can increase employee engagement and strengthen your image as an attractive employer.

Ultimately, it's about consciously standing out from the crowd and being authentic as a company. By highlighting the uniqueness of your company, using creative approaches and optimizing the candidate experience, you can strengthen your employer brand and succeed in the war for talent in the long term. This process can be efficiently supported through the use of applicant management software.