Why Employee-Generated Content is the Secret Weapon for Hiring
Companies are spending millions on employer branding. But the most powerful recruiting tool? Their employees.
In today’s job market, candidates don’t just look at job descriptions or careers pages—they look at what employees are saying. And the data proves it:
Content shared by employees gets 2x–8x more engagement than content from a company page.
Candidates trust employees 3x more than official company messaging when deciding where to apply.
Jobs shared by employees receive 30% more applications than those shared through a corporate page alone.
This isn’t a theory. It’s happening. And companies that embrace it are winning the talent game.
The Rise of Employee-Generated Content (EGC)
Employee-generated content (EGC) is any content—LinkedIn posts, videos, testimonials, team moments—created and shared by employees rather than the company itself. And it’s becoming the most trusted and effective form of employer branding.
Why? Because people trust people.
A job seeker is far more likely to believe an employee talking about their experience than a polished corporate PR message. In fact, 86% of candidates trust employee recommendations over company advertising.
How EGC Directly Impacts Hiring
The numbers speak for themselves. Companies that leverage employee advocacy see:
Higher Engagement: Employee content gets exponentially more likes, comments, and shares than corporate posts, meaning more eyes on your employer brand.
More Applications: When employees share job openings or positive work experiences, those jobs receive 30% more applications on average.
Better Candidate Fit: Candidates gain an authentic inside look at company culture, leading to more informed applicants and better retention.
Companies Leading the Way
Some of the biggest brands in the world are already capitalizing on this strategy:
Dell activated 10,000 employees to share their work experiences, generating 150,000+ social shares and dramatically increasing job applications.
Adobe encouraged employees to share real stories about their workplace, growing their employer brand reach by millions.
Starbucks lets baristas share their daily experiences, creating an authentic and highly visible employer brand that attracts talent organically.
The Missed Opportunity for Most Companies
And yet, many companies still miss out on this advantage because they:
Overlook the impact of employee voices.
Rely on overly polished, corporate-sounding recruitment content.
Expect candidates to trust their brand without showcasing real employee experiences.
If your hiring strategy doesn’t include empowering employees to share their experiences, you’re already behind.
How to Encourage Employee-Generated Content
If you want to tap into the power of EGC, here’s how to start:
Make It Easy – Provide employees with training and simple guidelines on what and how to share.
Lead by Example – Encourage leaders to share their own work experiences.
Recognize and Reward – Celebrate employees who engage, and showcase their content on company platforms.
Trust Your Team – Let employees tell their stories in their own way—authenticity is key.
The Future of Hiring Is Built on Trust
The best employer branding isn’t what you say about your company. It’s what your employees say.
Candidates today are looking for transparency. They want to hear from the people who actually work at your company. The organizations that recognize this shift—and actively support their employees in sharing—will be the ones attracting top talent.
If you’re serious about hiring the best, start empowering your employees to be the voice of your brand. Because in the end, people trust people—not corporate messaging.