Attracting top talent, especially at the senior level, isn’t always easy, and can sometimes be a lengthy and frustrating process. But have you ever considered that the issue could lie with your employer branding, and not a lack of appropriate talent?
What is Employer Branding?
Employer branding refers to the way that your company is viewed by others, including future and current employees. And when it comes to attracting the best pharmaceutical talent at senior level, the way that you and your company are perceived is vital. Having a bad reputation can make or break the deal when it comes to getting the right applicants- this goes for company culture, whether or not you’re inclusive and so much more in between.
So how do you ensure that your employer branding is on-target, so that you can recruit and retain the top pharmaceutical talent? Read on to discover our tips.
Be clear about what your company has to offer
Your company’s unique value proposition is vital if you want to stand out from the crowd, and being sure of what you have to offer is critical. Your company mission, values, vision, culture and employee benefits are all pivotal when it comes to creating an employer brand that has strength and power and one that will attract the right people to the job.
Use your unique value proposition to answer common questions that candidates have when applying for positions at senior level. Think about why someone would want to work at your company, what you have to offer them, and why it’s such a great place to work. What is it that truly makes your company different? What are your key strengths when it comes to employee benefits- such as flexible working, inclusivity, health benefits, training and career progression? Do you hold regular team-building sessions? Do you have a rewards and recognition programme? What is it that will attract the top talent, and keep them too?
So take some time to analyse how effective your company’s unique value proposition is, and treat it like the valuable asset that it is. How your company mission comes across is so important and if potential candidates feel they gel with what you offer, your recruitment process is going to be a lot smoother overall.
Work on your brand’s reputation
Just as your company’s mission needs to be spot on, your reputation needs to be top priority too. Do you know how your company is viewed by others in the pharmaceutical industry? Do you have a good reputation? If you’re not sure, now is the time to find out. Prospective employees are not going to want to come on board if you have a bad reputation, and those you do have will jump ship too.
Being aware of your brand’s reputation and taking action towards improving it is the first step in attracting and keeping hold of top pharma talent- but it needs to be an ongoing effort too. So take the time to engage current employees with surveys and polls, and carry out an audit of your company’s reputation via sites such as Glassdoor. The results might surprise you, but at least you’ll be in a good position to make improvements and raise your chances of building the senior management team you need long-term.
Make sure your resulting plan of action takes everything into account, and use it to your advantage. Build a brand reputation that clearly communicates your mission and values, and make it one that entices top talent.
Know the value of your current employees
The staff you have already are an honest portrayal of your employer brand, and will really help new recruits to understand your company better. Engaging with current employees not only helps you to understand what it’s like to work for your company, but it will also help you to recognise the areas that need improvement too.
And likewise, recommendations from current employees are truly worth their weight in gold when it comes to recruiting new staff- authentic accounts from actual employees is the most powerful form of advertising, and one that you need to leverage during the recruitment process. Your team can become brand ambassadors, who can have a huge impact on the hiring process, able to share your company culture with honesty and passion. Use this to your advantage.
At the end of the day, how your company is viewed by potential candidates matters. If your brand and your reputation aren’t up to scratch, they will go elsewhere. And with the talent pool becoming harder and harder to tap into, now is the time to make some changes so that you can engage the right candidates at the right time. Your success depends on your brand, so take steps today to get it right.
Get in touch to see how we can help you attract and retain top pharmaceutical talent, we’re passionate about delivering the best leadership solutions and have invaluable insight into what senior candidates are looking for when choosing a new company to join.
