Is Yours What It Should Be?

Dan Lovekamp, Director of Training at Auffenberg Dealer

Dan Lovekamp is a purveyor of useful information that has engaged and entertained for the past four decades.  Director of Training in Sales for twenty-two years and enthusiastically engaging in his consulting business for thirty years, guiding clients to their vision of growth.  Husband to Sally, Grandfather to Brooke, Jackson, Ben, Cole, Drew and Brynne, father to Hotch and Casey.  Avid Golfer, Fly Fisherman and DIY addict.  Don’t get me started on Bourbon and Cigars! LOL

Through this article, Dan Lovekamp shares his insights on how candidates form impressions of a company long before formal meetings, influenced by the company's communication, visibility and interactions. He stresses the importance of clear, engaging communication, building trust and managing visibility to attract and retain talent. Treating job opportunities like products, ensuring relevance and integrating feedback are key to enhancing the candidate experience and supporting organizational growth.

The candidate’s first impression of your company begins long before your meeting.  It has reflected on how they interact with you.  They have begun the process of evaluating your professionalism, organizational culture, and overall perception of how your company presents itself to the marketplace.  The concept of, they should be grateful for the opportunity, has passed. What makes an organization the best to work for?

Communication Style: How the open position is communicated can impact the clarity and effectiveness of the message. Clear and concise communication ensures that the customer understands the role and its relevance to them or others in their organization.  The form of communication has never been more important.  We live in a visual world where it is our responsibility to inform and entertain.  Treat your opportunity like a product that they need using feature, advantage and benefit processes.

Relevance:  If the open position directly relates to products or services the candidate uses or is interested in, discussing it can demonstrate the company's commitment to meeting their needs. It shows that the company is proactive in anticipating future requirements.  Treating your company as the product while discussing the opportunity will engage them.

“Integrating discussions about open opportunities with candidate interactions should be done thoughtfully and strategically, demonstrating the company's values, responsiveness and commitment to mutual growth and success.”

Trust and Relationship Building:  Building trust with your potential team members has always been crucial to their engagement with your organization.  Build trust and strengthen the relationship with your potential candidates by showing transparency and a willingness to involve them in the company's growth and development.  The synergistic approach to any challenge has always proved to be beneficial.

Visibility:  Visibility significantly influences a candidate's perspective on a company by shaping its reputation, attractiveness as an employer, perceived stability and credibility. Employers should strategically manage their visibility through effective branding, communication channels, and engagement in relevant industry activities to positively impact how they are perceived by potential candidates.

Employer Branding: Visibility directly affects how a company is perceived as an employer. Companies with high visibility often have well-established employer branding strategies that showcase their culture, values and opportunities for career growth. This can make them more attractive to candidates seeking a supportive and rewarding work environment.

Opportunity Awareness: When a company is visible in the job market, it ensures that potential candidates are aware of job openings and career opportunities within the organization. This visibility can increase the likelihood of attracting qualified candidates who may not have considered the company otherwise.

Perceived Stability and Growth: A visible company is often seen as stable and likely to offer long-term career prospects. Candidates are more inclined to join organizations that they perceive as growing and successful, which can be inferred from a company's visibility in the market.

Candidate Feedback:  Sometimes, discussing open opportunities can elicit valuable feedback or insights from the candidate about their own experiences, needs, or suggestions. This feedback can be invaluable for refining the role description or even for future product/service development.  You never lose, you either win or you learn. 

Overall, integrating discussions about open opportunities with candidate interactions should be done thoughtfully and strategically. It should enhance the experience by demonstrating the company's values, responsiveness and commitment to mutual growth and success.  Following a simple, efficient process that values their time as well as yours. The candidate wants to feel like the information they seek is accessible.