Jobseekers use reviews and testimonials to check out prospective employers before applying
Employees across generations turn to reviews and testimonials about an organisation before applying for a role, according to a new report.
iHire's new research report looked at the preferences and challenges faced by the four predominant generations in the workforce today, including Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
The report found that prior to applying at a company, at least four in 10 Baby Boomers (48.2%), Gen X (44.8%), and Millennials (40.3%) look up current and former employee reviews and testimonials about the organisation.
A third of Gen Z workers admit to doing this as well, but a greater 36.8% of them said they look up reviews or testimonials from an organisation's customers.
This suggests the younger generation wants to know about a company from a customer's perspective and looks at a potential employer from a wider lens, the report said.
Importance of employer branding
The findings come as the report underscored the importance of employer branding, or how the company conveys or shapes its reputation as a workplace, to jobseekers.
Candidates of all generations will investigate your brand before applying for a position, it said.
In fact, more than a quarter of employees across all generations said they will look at an organisation's company culture details before applying.
Around a quarter of Gen X (23.4%), Millennials (26.7%), and Gen Zs (28.4%) also said they look at an organisation's commitment and initiatives to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Challenges for jobseekers
Meanwhile, the report also uncovered the variety of challenges experienced by each generation during recruitment.
More than a third of Gen X (35.7%) and Gen Z (35.8%) respondents said their biggest challenge is finding a job that they are qualified for or have the right experience for.
Baby Boomers (30.7%) and Millennials (32%), on the other hand, said their biggest challenge is applying or interviewing for a company and not hearing back from them.
Around a quarter of Gen X (27.9%), Millennials (25.7%), and Gen Zs (26.4%) also said it was hard to find jobs that meet their salary requirements.
One in five Baby Boomers also noted that they experienced discrimination or bias during recruitment, according to the report.
Steve Flook, iHire's President and CEO, said their report aims to inspire organisations to nurture inclusive work environments that can attract and engage employees across generations.
With multiple generations coexisting in today's workforce, employers must consider each group's unique challenges, preferences, and goals in their recruitment and retention strategies, Flook said in a statement.
https://www.hcamag.com/au/news/general/employer-branding-how-does-reputation-impact-recruitment/537288
