What the Most In-Demand Companies in the UK Have in Common Glassdoor for Employers

What the Most In-Demand Companies in the UK Have in Common

As a talent acquisition professional, you probably spend a good deal of your time sourcing the right candidates for your open roles and then selling them on why they should come to your organisation. But wouldn’t it be nice if the best candidates were proactively applying to your jobs without you needing to reach out to them first?

For the fortunate organisations on Glassdoor’s list of the UK’s 15 Most In-Demand Companies, this is the reality. Companies on this list received the highest amount of attention from job seekers based on the number of clicks on their jobs over the course of a year. But what exactly makes these organisations so irresistible to job seekers, and what can you learn from them?

We rounded up a few of the top reasons — read on below to find out what you need to know in order to become the next must-apply company!

1. Strong Employer Brands

It probably comes as no surprise that Glassdoor’s list of most in-demand companies includes household names like Amazon, Google, EY, J.P. Morgan and Siemens. But these companies don’t just benefit from recognition by consumers — they also have well-established employer brands. Google, for example, is known as a company that will not only look great on your CV, but also allow you to collaborate with the best and brightest, while EY, as one of the “Big 4” consulting firms, has cemented itself as one of the premier destinations for employees that work in accounting and consulting.

Don’t worry, though — your company does not have to be the same size or have the same global brand recognition as companies like this in order to attract top candidates. You just have to invest some time and effort into creating and promoting your employer brand. A few quick tips for developing your employer brand:

  • Identify your strengths: What is your organisation already doing right when it comes to creating a great workplace? Poll employees internally to see what their favourite things about working for your company are, and how they would describe your culture and environment.
  • Define your values: Nothing unites employees more than a shared set of values. Thinking about what your company mission is, which traits help employees succeed in your workplace and how you support your local community can all help you identify which values matter the most to your organisation.
  • Establish your employer value proposition: What is the unique benefit that you provide to your employees? Whether it’s the ability to have a major impact right from the start, a purpose-driven culture or access to the latest and greatest technologies, every organisation has an advantage that helps set them apart from competitors.

Once you have the major tenets of your employer brand nailed down, you can work on incorporating these themes into the messaging found on your career site, Glassdoor profile, social media channels and more to present a strong, cohesive vision of what it’s like to work for your organisation.

RELATED: The ROI of Employer Brand

2. Impressive Compensation Packages

The majority of the most in-demand companies are in the tech or finance industry, two fields that are known to generously compensate their employees. In fact, three organisations on the list — Facebook, UBS and Google — also appeared on Glassdoor’s list of Highest Paying Companies in the UK for 2019.

“Both [tech and finance] dominate the Highest Paying Companies in the UK for 2019. This indicates that, while not the sole motivation, salary and compensation is still an important factor during the job search process and can help get recruits in the door,” said Amanda Stansell, senior economic research analyst at Glassdoor. In other words, making sure that your organisation is offering competitive compensation packages is critical.

To confirm whether or not the starting salaries at your organisation are adequate, use Glassdoor’s Salaries tool to see what the average pay is for a given job title in your area. It’s also worth checking the reported salaries on the profiles of your competitors to see how your offers stack up against theirs.

But remember, compensation isn’t just about salary. Conducting a benefits audit can help you identify where you might need to expand your offerings. Research your competitors and other organisations in your industry to see how your benefits packages stack up, then survey your employees to see which of the benefits you currently offer are the most important to them, as well as ask which other benefits they would like. While perks like free food, state-of-the-art offices and in-office massages are exciting, what generally matters the most to employees are practical benefits like private health and dental insurance, generous holiday time off and a solid pension plan.

RELATED: 5 Tips to Compete for Top Talent When You Can’t Pay Top Price

3. Tangible Impact

One of the most appealing parts about working at companies like Amazon, Siemens and UBS is the fact that employees get to work on projects that have a direct impact on millions of people around the globe. But even if your company is not a multinational corporation, you can still do plenty to ensure that your employees feel that the work they are doing is meaningful. Here are a few ideas:

  • Emphasise your mission: Inspire your employees by reminding them how their day-to-day work connects to your company’s larger goals and purpose. At Glassdoor, we do this by highlighting stories and quotes from jobseekers whom we have helped find employment and employers whom we have helped hire top-notch employees. These stories have a dedicated channel on our internal messaging tool, and make frequent appearances at all hands meetings.
  • Recognise their efforts: All employees want to feel that their work is appreciated and important. When an employee does a particularly brilliant job, they should be celebrated in front of their peers, and perhaps even rewarded. When training people managers, make sure to communicate how important it is to commend their direct reports for exceptional performances. You might also consider creating a formal employee recognition or awards program.
  • Host a Hackathon: Hackathons — events in which employees compete against one another in teams to create projects that will benefit the business in some way — have become fixtures at tech companies, but there’s no reason they can’t be implemented at other types of organisations. Encouraging employees to dream big, come up with creative solutions to business challenges and present their ideas in front of the company will inspire them and perhaps even lead to the adoption of new features or strategies.

If your company didn’t make it to Glassdoor’s list of most in-demand companies, don’t fret. There are still loads of things you can do to attract talent to your company. Who knows? If you can strengthen your employer brand, improve your compensation packages and remind employees of the impact they make, you might just find your own company on next year’s list!

Learn More:

How Glassdoor Can Boost Your Employer Brand