Employer Branding

Glossary of HR Terms Employer Branding

What is Employer Branding?

Employer Branding is the practice of shaping and promoting an organization’s reputation as an employer. It highlights the company’s culture, values, and employee experience to attract, engage, and retain top talent. An effective employer brand communicates why the organization is a great place to work, both internally to employees and externally to potential candidates.

Why it matters

In competitive job markets, salary alone is not enough to attract talent. A strong employer brand differentiates a company from competitors, improves candidate quality, reduces cost-per-hire, and boosts employee engagement and retention. It also strengthens alignment between the company’s mission and its workforce.

Where it fits in the HR stack

Employer branding sits in the talent acquisition and employee experience layers of the HR stack. It connects recruitment marketing tools, career sites, social media platforms, and engagement/retention initiatives to create a consistent employee value proposition (EVP).

Common use cases/Examples

  • Designing career websites that highlight company culture and benefits.
  • Promoting employee testimonials and success stories on LinkedIn.
  • Running social media campaigns showcasing workplace culture.
  • Leveraging Glassdoor and Indeed reviews to manage reputation.
  • Aligning onboarding and engagement programs with brand promises.

Examples of companies that use it

  • Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and HubSpot, known for showcasing their innovative and employee-centric cultures.
  • Enterprises such as Unilever and Deloitte, which invest heavily in global employer branding campaigns to attract diverse talent.
  • SMBs and startups highlighting flexibility, growth opportunities, or mission-driven work to stand out against larger employers.

FAQ

Corporate branding promotes a company to customers, while employer branding promotes the company as a workplace to current and future employees.

An EVP is the unique set of benefits, rewards, and cultural elements a company offers employees, forming the foundation of employer branding.

A strong employer brand increases the quantity and quality of applicants, shortens hiring times, and lowers recruitment costs.

Yes. By aligning the employee experience with the employer brand promise, companies foster loyalty and reduce turnover.

Metrics include employer review ratings, candidate application rates, offer acceptance rates, employee engagement scores, and turnover rates.