What HR can learn from Marketing
Mark W. Schaefer writes in Harvard Business Review about the “Why (and How) HR Needs to Act More Like Marketing” and we found his insights to be very informative. Today’s recruiting environment is highly competitive and in order to stand out in the crowd, employers can borrow some great tools from their marketing department. Schaefer identifies 7 key areas that marketing can help the HR team improve their reach and effectiveness. They are:
- Compete for talent the way companies compete for customers.
- Pay more attention to user interfaces.
- Be. More. Human.
- Build employees’ brands to help them amplify your message.
- Try contextual advertising.
- Think strategically about touchpoints.
- Use influencer marketing to recruit.
We particularly like item 3 on the list “Be. More. Human.” Gone are the days of filling out an online application, sifting through a pile of resumes and scheduling phone interviews in order to fill your job openings. Today’s most skilled job seekers are looking for more interaction with their prospective employer. This helps them get a better idea of what a particular company’s culture and it’s people are like so they can know what to expect if they receive and potentially accept a job offer. Show them more about what is great about your organization using video, testimonials, photo essays and the like and you will attract more attention from potential candidates.
You can check out Mr. Shaefer’s entire article on employing marketing principals in the HR department here. If you are looking for exciting and creative ways to engage job hunters that my be seeking the positions you are currently looking to fill, contact one of the job placement specialists at GHS Recruiting so we can discuss how you can put some of these ideas into action in your own organization.
