Work Life Balance and the Benefit of Great Branding - ft. Sean Anderson (Vol 4)

Introducing the fourth edition of the #HireWire newsletter, a comprehensive resource dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on the ever-changing landscape of the recruitment industry in the UK!

Inside this newsletter, we will explore the latest advancements and trends that are shaping the UK recruitment sector. Our objective is to provide you with valuable insights into hiring practices, job market predictions, and the cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of the industry.

In this edition, we will dive into mental health and work-life balance and we’ll discuss how candidate attraction is evolving in the UK recruitment market with some words of wisdom from the marketing genius Sean Anderson from Hoxo; Sean offers some great insights which’ll be beneficial for all recruiters and recruitment firms!

Whether you are an aspiring recruiter, a seasoned recruiter, a director, or a recruitment founder, our newsletter is specifically designed to equip you with the latest news and analysis, ensuring that you stay ahead in this dynamic industry.

Work Life Balance

To assess whether an employer practices what they preach regarding mental health and a supportive work environment, follow these steps:

1. Avoid relying solely on the company's LinkedIn profile, as it may not provide an accurate picture of their practices.
2. Seek insights from current employees who can offer genuine perspectives on the company's approach.
3. Review feedback from present and past employees on platforms like Glassdoor to understand the company's actual culture and dedication to employee well-being.
4. Consult with a rec2rec agency, such as Equanimity Search, who have regular interactions with recruitment firms and can share valuable insights on work cultures and mental health policies.

By employing these strategies, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how well a company lives up to its stated principles regarding mental health and employee support.

When discussing an employer's approach to mental health during an interview, be sure to ask relevant questions such as:

1. How does the company handle stress and prevent employee burnout?
2. Does the company provide an employee assistance program or comprehensive healthcare cover, and what does it entail.
3. Is there training offered to support staff in recognising and assisting those with mental health concerns?

If any concerning issues arise during the interview process and cannot be resolved, carefully consider whether this potential employer aligns with your priorities for work-life balance and mental well-being.

Furthermore, utilising the services of a specialised recruitment partner like Equanimity Search can significantly help you find employers who prioritise and offer the level of support you desire for your mental health.

Branding Tips with Sean Anderson, Founder of Hoxo

For quite some time now, the balance of power has shifted, putting candidates firmly in control. Employers, who once held all the advantages, have seen a transformation in this landscape – those who refuse to acknowledge this reality are living in the past. However, for those who recognise the current state of affairs, the key is to become the top choice for candidates – whether they are actively seeking new opportunities or passively considering them. The competition for top talent has increased and with that it has caused candidate attraction to evolve, one of the most widely adopted candidate attraction techniques is through branding.

Sean Anderson is a personal branding and company branding expert, the Founder and CEO of Hoxo is “on a mission to brand recruitment agencies and their people better, helping them stand out in the most competitive markets in the world” and Hoxo allow firms to do just that; they’ve helped over 5000 recruiters globally and have worked with over 350 agencies.

In a recent #HireWire meeting Sean kindly shared some wise advice to recruiters and recruitment firms with regards to their branding:

1. What advantages does excellent company branding offer?

• Your recruitment agency brand is your anchor. Every single person in the company is impacted by the brand. Every time you pick up the phone, people will check you out on LinkedIn and probably visit your website. When presenting complex solutions to clients, they will bench mark your website and brand vs the competition.

2. In today's recruitment market, why do you consider company branding to be more crucial than ever before?

• When looking to hire new recruiters, these potential hires will take time to review your website and brand with the aim of understanding your culture, your services and what makes you unique. Your brand is your shop window, your first and last impression. Too many recruitment agencies are full of fantastic consultants, but the agency brand does them no favours.

3. What tips would you offer to recruitment firms that need to work on their marketing?

• Make sure that your company branding actually represents who you are. Invest in the right team of talented people to document and define your story and proposition, a design & development team to bring your identity to life. But most importantly, get your recruiters (who are the business in reality) to brand themselves in a way that shows their personality, knowledge and track record. This is your traffic and your source of content.

Should you be interested in contributing to an upcoming edition or collaborating on a future project, please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m eager to hear from you!

Follow the hashtag #HireWire on LinkedIn and join in. Also, make sure to follow my page so you can share your opinions and interact with my findings.

If you're interested in finding top talent for your team or exploring opportunities in the industry, don't hesitate to reach out to me!