What is the value of business and industry awards when it comes to recruitment? Having just attended the Telstra Business Awards 2019 as a finalist, it was fantastic to see so many people really thriving with their business. Excelling in business and industry awards can be personally satisfying and lead to new opportunities as well as recognition. However, there is also a role for awards when it comes to building your employer brand, retaining the best staff and attracting new talent. I’ve put together these tips to share my insight on how to make the most of awards for your employer brand.
Consider your employer brand
Understanding your employer brand is part of deciding where to focus your award efforts. What kind of staff do you want to retain and attract? How do you want to be known? Are you a leader in your field? Perhaps you’re the best in your class. Or maybe you are an employer of choice. Working out how you want to use your awards and where they can add value to your employer brand will help you concentrate your efforts where they can have the most impact.
Focus on awards that add value
Not all awards are the same when it comes to the value they bring. Some awards are specific to an industry. Others celebrate the best of a region or location. Still others have a specific focus, such as innovation or community. You’ll also find categories for businesses, teams and individuals for everything from ‘best business to work for’ to ‘best customer service’ to ‘business leader of the year’. There are simply too many awards to enter them all. Also, the amount of work involved in preparing for them can be significant. Therefore, I suggest choosing the awards that best match your objectives. Think about which awards are well-known and how they are viewed by your clients, peers, staff and potential employees. Then work towards winning the awards that align with what you want to achieve and be known for.
Make the most of your awards
Reaching the final rounds of an award is a great achievement and something worth celebrating. So when you do make the shortlist or take home the trophy, make sure people know about it. Often clients are the people businesses focus on telling, but have you thought about the value of highlighting your awards when recruiting? If you’re excelling in a particular area, that can be attractive to candidates. Likewise, being recognised as a great organisation to work for can help you to stand out as a potential employer worth considering.
If you’re already an award-winner, congratulations and keep up your great work. If you’re yet to claim that prize, keep working at it. Although it can seem like a lot of work, the benefits of success make it worthwhile. Whatever your awards experience to date, I hope that these insights will spur you on to reach your goals and make the most of your success, especially when it comes to positioning your business for successful recruiting.
