LinkedIn reveals the top 10 companies employees want to work for – how to make your company attractive

Major companies Rio Tinto, Leighton Contractors and Google are most favoured by jobseekers, ranking as the top three most in-demand employers in Australia, a new LinkedIn survey finds.

The LinkedIn 2013 Most InDemand Employers list for Australia found that mining and energy companies were highly popular.

UK-headquartered Rio Tinto was number one, Sydney-based Leighton Contractors second, Melbourne-based John Holland fourth and Sydney-based Origin Energy fifth.

Technology businesses were also popular, with California-based Google ranked third on the list, Microsoft sixth, and the NBN Co came in at eighth despite recent challenges. In the 2012 survey, LinkedIn found the NBN Co was ranked 16th.

The InDemand survey ranks the most sought-after employers, based on the number of prospective employees who are familiar with a company, as well as the number of prospective employees based on engagement. LinkedIn has over four million members in Australia.

The survey was also conducted on a global level, with only one Australian-based brand, Worley Parsons, making the global list. Worley Parsons came in at number seven on the Australian list, and number 35 globally. This was a jump of 36 places on its position in 2012.

LinkedIn Talent Brand strategist Tim Grogan told SmartCompany this morning that the top 10 Australian companies were examples of businesses investing in what he calls “talent brand”.

He says they have a strong online presence, providing content about their businesses, building online communities through which they share news, and they provide content that is easily readable and easy to share with friends.

Grogan says it is vital that a company projects its value proposition to prospective candidates, and is also active in promoting job opportunities.

“It is crucial that organisations understand how they are perceived by prospective candidates in order to remain competitive in hiring and retaining talent,” he says.

The top 10 list may be dominated by major corporations, but RedBalloon founder Naomi Simson told SmartCompany this morning that SMEs should not think they can’t compete.

“What attracts people to these big companies?” she asks. “Security or career prospects? Or maybe they have the technical skill base for a specific industry such as mining, where there are not as many options for places to use those skills except for mining companies.”

Simson says small businesses can attract great staff by promoting the fact that employees can have accountability and ownership of projects, without the layers of approval needed at big companies.

She says the ability to innovate in a small business is a highly attractive prospect for employees, which should be valued.

Simson also advises making the vision of your business clear to candidates, so the values, goals and opportunities are clear.

“If you don’t know what you stand for, why would people work for you? Let people know up front,” she says.

Tristan White, founder of the Physio Co and SmartCompany workplace culture blogger, says that it is important to make it obvious why the business exists.

“Most people like to feel like they are contributing to something bigger than themselves,” he says. “So make it obvious why their job is so important.”

He also advises having positive people responsible for creating a positive workplace.

“A positive environment without politics is an attractive place to work for most people. So recruit people that are positive and ask them to be responsible for keeping the workplace positive. ‘Creator of Energy and Inspiration’ is the job title of The Physio Co’s support office coordinator and Jess lives up to that responsibility.”

White says it is also up to the business owner to pay attention to your team each day, rather than walk past their desks straight to your office. This builds morale and makes the company more appealing.

“Leaders should genuinely praise, thank and recognise employees, in front of their peers, at least every two weeks.

“Things like living your core values, putting in extra effort, solving a challenge and other small but significant actions are what builds momentum in a workplace. You don’t have to always reward with gifts, but recognise people often.”

LinkedIn 2013 Most InDemand Employers list for Australia

1.            Rio Tinto

2.            Leighton Contractors

3.            Google

4.            John Holland

5.            Origin Energy

6.            Microsoft

7.            Worley Parsons

8.            NBN Co Limited

9.            Qantas

10.     Accenture