Harness the power of recruitment storytelling

“Stories help us feel part of something bigger. A good story can make us feel like we belong.” - Chris Brogan

Every organisation has a story to tell. Storytelling is a powerful marketing tool.

Modern recruitment is marketing, which means hiring teams must be able to craft and tell stories.

Every compelling, effective recruitment campaign includes a story, told across many touch points.

Your story must be authentic and honest yet also aspirational.

It needs to create connection, evoke emotion and move people to act.

It should also communicate value and demonstrate impact.

Mostly importantly, you need to tell the RIGHT story.

Is the story you tell to donors, supporters and partners the same story you tell to your customers, community or beneficiaries?

It's not. It has some subtle differences.

When you're recruiting, you need to tell a story that resonates with THIS audience.

The people you want to attract to apply, attend an interview, accept your job offer and become loyal employees.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in recruitment, but here's where most organisations go wrong.

When you're hiring, the hero of the story is NOT your organisation.

The hero of the story is the employee. The one you're trying to attract (and perhaps the ones you have in your team). Smart marketing puts the consumer at the centre, always.

When you're hiring, your job is to convince your consumer. To attract them. Engage them. Convince them to stay.

46% of people don't trust an organisation to be honest with them in the hiring process (Gartner, 2024). The antidote to this lack of trust is the voice of your employees.

Effective recruitment storytelling must include and celebrate this voice.

Is attracting and retaining great people on your agenda?

You need to invest in compelling, authentic storytelling.

Find out how I use this approach to attract up to 7x more suitable, matched talent and help employers get to 'offer accepted' in 23 days (48% faster than average).

Flexible talent support for NFP leaders

I am deeply committed to making recruitment easier for nonprofit leaders.

I support leaders and organisations to attract the right people through:

• traditional recruitment solutions

• flexible unbundled recruitment support

• helping you review and improve your recruitment approach

• helping you understand and articulate your real EVP through employee research

• leveraging this research to develop authentic recruitment content

• building campaigns that reflect culture and the employee experience

• consulting and advisory work to develop talent attraction strategy and capacity.

If you’re curious to know more, send me a message or get in touch for a chat.

As a communications professional and writer turned recruiter, I know modern recruitment is marketing, and I'm on a mission to share this approach with the sector.

Each Friday, I share talent attraction advice and insights. The Nonprofit Talent Edge will help you become more intentional, creative and proactive with your recruitment.

Have a great week.

Cynthia