In today’s job market, when candidates look for new work, they’re going beyond a quick Google search.

High quality candidates, or ‘top talent’, are selective about where they work.

As an employer, understanding what job seekers are looking at when they research potential companies is crucial.

If you’re looking to hire the best – pay attention! These are the things candidates look for when researching where to work

Social media pages

A study from CareerBuilder last year showed that 70% of candidates use social media during the consideration phase of their job hunt.

First, to be clear, not every business needs the whole nine yards when it comes to social media profiles. Be selective. It’s better to use a few platforms well than to try to everything.

Still – It’s 2016, and most candidates will expect your company to be on social media.

LinkedIn is a big one for many professionals, but Twitter and Facebook can also be key for your employer brand.

If done properly, Instagram or Facebook updates of office life, extracurricular work activities, or employees hanging out together outside the 9-5 can give companies an edge in Recruiting.

Your culture

While this is tied to your company’s social media presence, your company culture is mainly reflected on your website, through your mission and values

Candidates will look for information such as the number of employees, benefits and perks, and company history.

Does your organization have an interesting background? Highlight this.

Put yourself in the shoes of a candidate and think of what might grab your attention if you were just a passive candidate who was browsing.

Testimonials

Once a job seeker has found an employer they’re interested in, they will often look at current employees – Specifically, the HR department.  Making connections with Recruiters on social platforms like LinkedIn is a great way for a candidate to network and learn more about the employer.

As well, more popular than ever are websites like GlassDoor where employees can anonymously review employers, write comments, and give insight on what it's like to work for a certain company.

GlassDoor also provides useful information about salaries and interview questions you will likely encounter with an employer.

Candidates will also look on Indeed to read employer reviews from current and past employees – Some large companies have hundreds of reviews.

Other content

While Instagram and Snapchat might not be relevant for many employers, it’s important to find appropriate outlets to share content so candidates can be aware of your company brand and culture.

Blogs are a great way to do this. Having original content that you share will allow job seekers a better understanding of what it is that you do.

It doesn’t even have to be your own content! If you find a great article that is in line with your brand and relevant to your business – share it!

With company information being much more widely available to candidates, it's crucial for employers to understand and adapt to this.

Attracting the right people will ultimately come down to the way your organization communicates its culture, vision, and values - Your employer brand. Want to learn more about this? Check out one of our FREE resources!