Creating and maintaining a corporate network is an important development lever for your company. There are two ways in which this network brings real benefits, and AlumnForce presents them to you.
Expanding your employer brand
Employer branding covers all the issues relating to a company’s image, recruitment and management. The more positive a company’s image, the more talent it attracts. Each year the Randstad Employer Brand Research study looks at the attractiveness of companies and ranks the 10 most attractive employers. The aim of employer branding is to establish a company’s reputation among its employees, so that they remain loyal and involved in the life of the company. It also aims to capitalise on and recruit talent.
According to Linkhumans, a strong employer brand increases the number of highly qualified applications by 50%. So it’s vital to focus on your employer brand to attract the best people and help your company grow. Corporate networks are beginning to win over companies looking to improve their employer brand. Their role as a connector between employees is a guarantee of good understanding, support and solidarity. Branding has a dual role:
- It enhances the image of your company in the eyes of your employees and collaborators, encouraging them to give their best in everything they do.
- It enhances the image of your company in the eyes of the market and potentially attract customers, investors and new talent.
Employer branding is in fact a source of new talent, since according to a Linkedin study, 75% of candidates find out about a company’s reputation before applying for a job. What’s more, if they don’t like what they find, 69% refuse to apply. According to the same study, 52% of candidates first surf the employer’s website and then its social networks. The presence of a corporate network is therefore a lever that should not be overlooked in attracting candidates through services dedicated to employees.
Recruitment support
The turnover rate is the indicator that shows how many employees leave or stay with a company over the course of a year. According to the latest data from INSEE, the average turnover rate in France has recently risen by 2.1% to over 15%, a rate considered high. With a desire for personal fulfilment, young professionals find it easier to change jobs to challenge themselves, rather than relying on seniority as was previously the norm.
So if your employees aren’t staying, you’re probably wondering: what’s the point of doing everything you can to make them feel good about working for you?
Firstly, co-option is an excellent way of recruiting new talent, and a trusted one at that. If your employees are satisfied with the company life you offer them, they can recommend friends or acquaintances who are qualified in your field. Through a corporate network that offers events to liven up company life, but above all a comprehensive directory accessible to all, employees feel integrated and supported in the development of their professional lives.
Secondly, by creating a real community around your company, you don’t just retain an employee who wants to see his or her professional situation evolve, you also keep in touch with them.
Have you ever heard of boomerang recruitment? It’s not uncommon for an employee to apply for a new position or a new challenge in a company they’ve already worked for. There are a number of reasons why the company that has kept in touch with this employee through its corporate network might be interested in hiring him or her again:
- The candidate is already familiar with the company’s values and way of working.
- They will take less time to adapt and integrate.
- They will therefore be productive in the shortest possible time.
The candidate who was already a good fit for you when he left to challenge himself in one or more other companies may come back with new skills and new ideas that could enable your company to continue to expand.
AlumnForce is the web and mobile solution for private professional social networking. If you too would like to find out more about our solutions for managing your corporate network, contact us!
