Why employers need to nail those first impressions too

Jo Faragher

Gone are the days when it was enough simply to have a vacancy and the jobseekers would come running to you. These days, employers have to fight a lot harder to gain candidates’ attention.

This was confirmed in a study by OfficeBroker.com this week that revealed that almost three quarters of job hunters decide if they want to work for someone within 30 seconds.

More than eight out of 10 thought they would turn down a position if they did not feel the workspace was a place they wanted to be, and who did not get a good feeling for the overall office culture.

Simple things such as lighting and the addition of break-out areas made all the difference to how a work environment was perceived. People want to enjoy being in an environment in which they spend so many of their waking hours.

As CEO Chris Meredith pointed out, that old adage of ‘first impressions count’ cuts both ways. And it’s not just about how you decorate your office space.

While candidates might have been attracted by a strong brand to apply for a job, if your environment does not reflect this when they come to interview they’ll not only feel cheated, they may drop out of the process altogether.

Imagine if you portray a vibrant, ping-pong playing culture where it’s good to stand out and have an opinion, but an applicant arrives at interview and is dragged into a sterile office to be interrogated by senior board members in suits. Or they expect a formal atmosphere but you turn up late, unprepared, and end up at a coffee shop because you forgot to book a room?

During the recession when employers held more of the cards, there would be occasions when this behaviour would be excusable and would not ruin an organisation’s chances of making the best hire. But now? Savvy candidates who get the wrong idea will be straight over to your competitor.

These first impressions will only become more important, too, as increasing numbers of talented candidates carve out ‘portfolio careers’, or ‘gigs’, and work with multiple employers or forge several different career avenues. Employers competing for this talent will literally be fighting for attention, so it’s important to ensure you give the right message in those crucial first 30 seconds.