Online reviews key to attracting talent

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A recent survey by Indeed has revealed that almost half (45 per cent) of Australian jobseekers automatically distrust companies that have an inadequate online presence.

Especially important to jobseekers was the availability of online company reviews from current and former employees. In fact, 46 per cent of Australian jobseekers agreed that they would not apply for a position if a company had no employee reviews online, and almost half again (43 per cent) stated that they would not believe the job opportunity was even real. When deciding to apply for a role, the survey found jobseekers considered company reviews more valuable than a company’s own website.

However, the findings also indicated that having a bad reputation online was not the be-all and end-all for employers. Whilst the survey showed only one in five (21 per cent) workers would trust an employer with a negative online reputation, it also found that three in five (60 per cent) workers would still apply for a role if the company had a good reputation for a specific department.

Companies with an evolving culture have the opportunity to change their narrative, with 47 per cent of those surveyed stating that they would have a more positive perception of an employer who had responded to bad reviews online.

Other key highlights from the study include:

  • Online reputations make jobs more attractive
  • Around nine in 10 (88 per cent) workers said that if they were considering a new job opportunity, insight into a prospective employer’s reputation would be important, with 35 per cent saying it would be extremely important.
  • Unsurprisingly, nearly two-thirds of workers (64 per cent) pointed to salary information as one of the most important factors when trying to decide whether to apply for a role.
  • Four in five (81 per cent) workers said they would be likely to apply for a position if they had online information on the company’s reputation.

“In this age of technological connectedness, companies can no longer forego an online presence. Jobseekers are keen on finding out what it’s like to work for a company before they even apply for the position and are using online channels such as social media platforms and peer review sites to do so,” says Paul Wolfe, Head of Global Human Resources at Indeed.

“To stay ahead, companies must find ways to present their brand’s story and personality that give them an edge.”