Employer Branding for Tech Companies: The 7 Step Guide

If you're a recruiter or talent acquisition specialist in the tech industry, you'll know that acquiring top tech talent is no easy feat.

Talent shortages are at a 10-year high worldwide, and by 2030 more than 85 million jobs, many of them tech roles, could go unfilled because there aren't enough skilled people to fill them.

You also need to be retaining top-tier talent, as this internal knowledge is crucial as your company grows, and tech start-ups and scale-ups need talent that can help them quickly pivot, test new ideas and products, and stay ahead of AI.

There's a lot to consider!

That's why your employer brand is vital.

So let's dive in with the 7 ways to improve your employer brand (and attract top talent) in your tech niche.
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1. Defining Employer Branding For Tech Companies

First, let's define what employer branding is exactly.

A strong employer brand communicates many things, including your company values, culture, employee value proposition (EVP), and the positive experiences they can expect when they are part of your workforce.

Employer branding also includes the "process" of promoting your tech company as a great, caring employer to your current employees and potential candidates - including passive job seekers who might just stumble upon you on LinkedIn, for example, follow you, and then consider a switch.

Of course, when you provide an amazing place to work, your employee retention rates improve drastically, and your employees are set up to do their very best work.
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2. Know your Employer Value Proposition (EVP)

Your EVP is the foundation of your employer branding strategy.

It highlights what makes your company an attractive workplace and covers quite a number of areas, including your:

• Company culture: What sets your workplace culture apart?
• Employee benefits: What unique perks do you offer?
• Career development opportunities: How do you support employee growth?
• Flexible work arrangements: How do you accommodate work-life balance?
• Continuous learning: What talent development opportunities do you provide?

Successful employer branding always includes tangible and nontangible benefits, like your culture, which is often impossible to measure with analytics tools or even employee feedback tools. In many cases, you need to rely on "your gut" too when it comes to employer branding and EVPs.

You can learn more here: Employer Brand vs Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
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3. Capture Real Employee Stories From Your Tech Team

Focusing on your EVPs, your employer branding should be based on authentic employee testimonials and real stories from your team, not your execs talking about your company.

A study by Edelman found that 75% of people trust information shared by 'average' (relatable) employees more than information shared by senior executives. 

A Stanford University study showed that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone. So, it's easy to see why employee testimonials are one of the most powerful tools for building trust with prospective candidates while reducing turnover rates.

The key is knowing "how to capture" authentic employee stories.

Here's how:

• Use tools like Vouch: Capture video testimonials, as they are far more powerful than written testimonials.
• Use simple questions: This ensures your employees are comfortable, not overwhelmed and punctual. Please see the link below for 5 highly effective questions.
• Sincerely thank your employees: Even offer a little gift if you can! Not everyone loves to be in front of the camera, especially in the tech industry, so show them you appreciate them. This can even lead to your team sharing your employee testimonials on their social channels, which is the golden ticket for employer branding for tech companies.

Here's a guide for capturing employee stories: 5 Employee Testimonial Questions You'll Love

‍ 4. Leverage Your Social Media Platforms & Internal channels

Now that you've captured authentic employee testimonials and stories, you'll need to start building a strong social media presence that is also authentic.

Building your presence internally is also vital, as this is what helps you build your workplace culture, retain employees, and help your entire team get to know each other and work closer together.

Use platforms like your Internet and leverage social media posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to:

• Post employee testimonials regularly through social media posts, like once a week.
• Add employee stories to your career portals to attract ideal candidates.
• Share your authentic employee stories on your company news emails, intranet and blogs.
• Be sure to engage with potential employees by responding to social comments and messages as quickly as possible.
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5. Streamline Your Recruitment Process & EX

Your hiring process, from talent acquisition to onboarding, should provide a positive candidate experience from the first touch point to the finish.

When it comes to your recruitment process, you need to focus on:

• Clear job descriptions: Ensure they reflect your company culture and values.
• Smooth application process: Make it easy for candidates to apply.
• Positive candidate experience at all times: Provide timely updates and feedback.
• Effective onboarding: Ensure a smooth transition for new hires.
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6. Engage With The Wider Tech Community

Your employer brand is both online and offline. It's also important to participate in industry tech events like these. Consider attending events that are relevant to your niche, attending career fairs, and working to connect with tech professionals and thought leaders.

Building relationships within the tech community can help you tap into a larger talent pool and increase your visibility as a positive employer.

If you work in the tech industry, we'd love to connect on LinkedIn!

Vouch is a video platform that is used by some of the world's best tech companies like Cisco, HubSpot, Amazon, Canva and thousands more, and we're a tech company, too : )
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7. Monitor and Measure Your Employer Branding Efforts

Track key metrics to evaluate the success of your employer branding strategy, such as:

• Retention rate
• Acceptance rate
• Application rate
• Cost per hire
• Hiring costs

This is a whole field, so if you are looking to measure your employer brand and recruitment efforts, we suggest reading this article: 7 Recruitment Metrics To Optimize Your Hiring.
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Why Do You Need To Constantly Evolve Your Employer Brand?

Your employer branding is an ongoing process, not a one-time process.

The key is staying updated with industry trends and adapting your strategy to meet the evolving needs of your current and prospective employees.

From this, you can regularly update your employer branding materials and ensure your messaging remains relevant and compelling.
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FAQs

What is employer branding, and why is it important for tech companies?

Employer branding is the process of promoting your company as an attractive place to work. For tech companies, it's crucial to stand out in a competitive job market and attract top-tier talent by showcasing your unique culture, values, and employee benefits.

How can social media help in employer branding?

Social media platforms are powerful tools for employer branding. They allow you to share employee stories, promote job opportunities, and engage with potential candidates, thereby building a strong employer brand and enhancing your company's visibility.

What elements should be included in an employer value proposition (EVP)?

An effective EVP should highlight your company culture, employee benefits, career development opportunities, flexible work arrangements, and continuous learning initiatives. These elements collectively demonstrate why your company is a great place to work.

How can tech companies improve their recruitment process to enhance employer branding?

Tech companies can improve their recruitment process by providing clear job descriptions, ensuring a smooth application process, offering a positive candidate experience, and implementing an effective onboarding program. This helps create a positive first impression and attracts ideal candidates.

What are some effective ways to collect employee feedback for employer branding?

Collect employee feedback through employee video surveys, one-on-one meetings, and regular check-ins. Utilize this feedback to improve employee satisfaction, reduce turnover rates, and refine your employer branding efforts, ensuring your strategy aligns with employee needs and expectations.
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Summary

By following these steps, you can create a powerful employer branding strategy that not only attracts qualified candidates but also retains happy employees, making your tech company a leader in the industry.

Remember, your Employer Brand and Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) are invaluable as they attract the right candidates in the first place, helping you stand out in your market.

Finally, be sure to check out Vouch if you would like a communications tool that makes building your Employer Brand and Streamlining your recruitment process remarkably easy.
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Like to try Vouch?

Loved by companies like Canva, Nike, Cisco, Stryker, HubSpot, Amazon, and more, tools like Vouch make leveraging video in your business remarkably easy.

Be sure to book a Vouch demo today and chat with a video content expert.