As a recruiter in 2003, I caught the early wave of digital marketing and tested many talent attraction tactics. Some failed, some didn’t, so for years I kept updating and testing strategies while managing hiring campaigns for giants like IBM, Accenture, SAP, and Deloitte.
Yet, repeatedly I saw employer brands play it safe with timid words: innovation, cutting-edge, passion, and stakeholder. They said the “right” words but struggled with their identity—their actions didn’t match their words. And it wasn’t just me that noticed.
Their employees said things that shaped a reputation that was different from those idealized brands.
And as data began to inform business decisions, I watched as companies failed to use it in a way that would help them manage their employer brands. Sure, companies were growing, but they were also hiring the wrong people for the jobs—a costly mistake.
Over time, a question took shape:
Could data be used to enhance an employer brand and make it more attractive?