Are Employer Values Now at the Top of Job Seekers’ Wish Lists?

Today’s job market is experiencing a massive shift in what has been dubbed “The Great Resignation” era, which many now believe didn’t even start with the pandemic. Either way, workers have been leaving their jobs more commonly than ever before in search of better opportunities.

One of the biggest findings to come out of this shift is the revelation that job seekers are increasingly prioritizing value and purpose from their work. This makes it all the more important for employers to tailor job postings to communicate their values in order to attract top talent.

So how can employers communicate their values in the first place, to then be able to get job seekers’ attention?

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Understanding What Job Seekers Want

Job seekers today are looking for more than just a paycheck from their careers. They want to work for a company that aligns with their values and offers opportunities for growth and development. They are also seeking out environments that are supportive and flexible, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

Gartner conducted a study on employees’ search for personal value and purpose at work and found that employees are looking for a sense of purpose in their jobs and want to make a positive impact. They want to work for a company that has a clear mission and values that align with their own. Not only that, but they also want to feel valued and supported by their employer.

In a nutshell, these findings tell us that workers are looking for internal and external motivation and validation from their jobs. They want to feel like they are contributing to something that matters, and at the same time, they want to be shown that they are valued by management through tangible and expressed acknowledgment.

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Tailoring Job Postings to Communicate Values

This means that to attract top talent, employers need to find ways of communicating their values through job postings. Here are a few ways employers can do just that:

  • Highlight Company Culture and Values: When creating a job posting, start with a highlight of the company’s culture and values. This could include information about the company’s mission statement, community involvement, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
  • Focus on Career Growth and Development: Everyone wants to work for a company that offers opportunities for growth and development, so a job posting should demonstrate this potential. Opportunities for professional development could include options like training programs, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.
  • Emphasize Work-Life Balance: A big part of valuing workers is showing them that you care about their lives outside of work as well. Work-life balance can include things like flexible work arrangements, remote work options, and wellness programs.
  • Communicate the Company’s Mission: Employees want to work for a company that has a clear mission and values that align with their own. This means that job seekers will be looking out for ways in which the company is making a positive impact in the world. This might include corporate social responsibility, DEI initiatives, or a built-in function of the role which can be emphasized.
  • Demonstrate Employee Value and Support: Communicate a commitment to employee value and support in the job postings by highlighting benefits such as competitive compensation, employee wellness programs, and career development opportunities. There are many options for showing employees that you value their work, and they don’t have to be overly costly or time-consuming.
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Job seekers today are looking much more closely at job postings, searching out connection points for value alignment. When there are so many job openings out there, you want to make sure that your listing stands out above the rest.

By working with a career and hiring matching service like KangarooStar, you can rest assured that whether you are a job seeker or a hiring manager, you are getting the best match for the role.