Positive recruitment experience and good onboarding as key to success in employer branding

The recruitment process and the first days at a new job are extremely important elements of employer branding. Organizations that want to attract the best candidates and candidates and keep them on their teams must invest in an excellent candidate experience and effective onboarding. How to do it? Let’s see why these elements are so crucial and how they can help achieve employer branding success.

Candidate experience is not just a recruitment process

Recruitment is one of the most important points of contact between the candidate and the employer brand, but it cannot stop there. As Ursula Zając-Pałdyna aptly noted in her article in the book “The Power of the Employer Brand:

If I had to define what candidate experience (CX) is to me, I would say virtually every point of contact and experience a person has with a potential employer. I would not limit myself to only those experiences that are strictly related to recruitment.

Urszula Zając-Pałdyna

LET’S HR

Every interaction, from the initial job announcement to day-to-day communication during employment, affects employees’ perceptions of the company. That’s why it’s so important to make the recruitment process clear, transparent and based on the organization’s values.

It is worth noting that candidate experience has a direct impact on brand image. If a candidate feels well treated at every stage of the recruitment process, he or she is likely to have positive associations with the company – regardless of the final outcome of the process.

Onboarding – the first step in building commitment

The first days of work are crucial to building the relationship between employer and employee. A well-designed onboarding is not only a formality, but also a way to introduce newcomers to the organizational culture and increase their commitment right from the start.

What influences a good first impression?

1. Comprehensive workstation preparation – Ensure that the new employee has access to all the necessary tools from day one.
   
2. Personalized welcome packs – Corporate clothing with logos, notebooks, mugs or other trinkets bearing the company’s branding can significantly improve first impressions. Personalized items, such as custom-printed apparel, emphasize care for each new team member.
   
3. Mentoring support – Assigning a mentor to guide the new person around the company and answer questions greatly facilitates adaptation.

A welcome pack, including printed corporate apparel or personalized clothing, not only builds a sense of belonging, but also strengthens the brand image in the eyes of a new employee. As a result, a person begins to feel a bond with the organization at the very beginning of their adventure.

Alexander Paczek

Co-Founder, MerchUp

Why is onboarding crucial to employer branding?

High-quality onboarding has a direct impact on employer branding. Companies that take care of new people in their first weeks on the job gain in the eyes of their employees and build a positive reputation in the labor market. Here are some reasons why you should take care of a comprehensive and well-designed onboarding process:

• Better first impression
  An employee who feels welcome is quicker to engage in his or her duties.
• Less risk of turnover
  Effective onboarding reduces the risk of an employee leaving in the first few months of employment.
• Building loyalty
  New employees who have a positive experience in the first few weeks are more likely to have a long-term relationship.

How to keep employees motivated and engaged?

Onboarding is just the beginning. The key to success is taking care of the employee at every stage of their career at the company. Daily attention to the well-being of the team translates into their commitment and effectiveness.

Personalized gifts as a form of appreciation

One proven way to maintain motivation is to appreciate employees on a regular basis. Personalized gifts, such as custom-printed clothes or company gadgets with logos, can be a great tool. It’s also a good idea to introduce small gestures, such as giving company gifts on birthdays, anniversaries or professional achievements. Then we emphasize that the employee or employee in question is an important part of our team! We also encourage you to read our post “How to choose gadgets and corporate apparel for the occasion and project?”, where we delve deeper into this topic.

Corporate apparel as part of team identity building

Promotional clothing with a company logo for a team is more than just a gadget. Company logo apparel reinforces a sense of belonging and is a great tool for brand promotion – both inside and outside the organization. When you wear cohesive sweatshirts as a team on team-building trips or other events, it’s immediately apparent that you’re a cohesive team that takes pride in what it does!

The role of corporate apparel in building employer branding

Printed app arel is not only a practical accessory, but also an important part of an employer branding strategy. With personalized apparel, companies can:

• Build a consistent brand image among employees and customers,
• Strengthen the sense of belonging within the team,
• Create positive associations with the company in the labor market.

A positive recruitment experience, effective onboarding, and daily care for the employee are key elements of employer branding. Building relationships with employees begins long before their first day on the job and continues throughout their employment. Taking care of such details as printed promotional apparel, personalized clothing or corporate apparel for employees can have a huge impact on the company’s image and team engagement. An investment in employees is an investment in the future of the organization. Remember that a strong employer brand starts with positive relationships with people – both in the recruitment process and in everyday cooperation.