In a competitive hiring market, it’s not always the highest salaries that attract the best people. Often, it comes down to how clearly and honestly a business communicates what it’s like to work there. If you’re thinking about how to create a strong employer value proposition, it starts with being real about what you offer and who you are as an employer.
A good EVP is more than just a recruitment message. It’s a clear statement that runs through everything from your job adverts to how your team describes their work. When it’s done properly, it helps you bring in the right people and makes it more likely they’ll stick around.
What Is an Employer Value Proposition and Why Does It Matter?
An employer value proposition is your way of showing what makes your workplace worth joining. It’s the balance between what employees get and what’s expected in return. That includes the obvious things like pay and benefits, but also things like flexibility, development, purpose and how people are treated.
In simple terms, it’s the answer to the question, “Why should someone want to work here, and why would they stay?”
For small and mid-sized businesses, this can be a real point of difference. You might not be able to compete with larger employers on salary, but your culture, growth opportunities or flexibility might be exactly what someone else is looking for.
What Makes a Strong Employer Value Proposition?
A strong EVP is about being honest and clear. It should reflect the actual experience of working in your business, not just what you think people want to hear.
The most effective employer value propositions are specific. They don’t try to appeal to everyone. They speak to the kind of people you want to attract and make it easy to understand what your business is like to work for.
They also line up with reality. If your EVP says one thing but people experience something very different once they join, that’s when trust breaks down and retention becomes a problem.
How to Create a Strong Employer Value Proposition
If you want to create an EVP that works in the real world, start by understanding your team and your ideal new hires. Figure out what already works well and how to talk about it clearly.
Start with your current team
Ask your people what they value about working with you. What made them join? What makes them stay? Their answers will give you a clearer view of what really matters and what you might want to highlight. According to Gallup, factors like feeling valued, having flexibility and doing meaningful work now matter more than perks or flashy benefits.
Think about who you want to attract
Consider the roles you’re hiring for and the type of people you want to bring in. What matters to them? What are they likely to be comparing you against?
Know your strengths
You don’t need to be perfect. Focus on what you genuinely do well, whether that’s offering flexibility, supporting development or being a business where people feel included and heard.
Make it practical and visible
Your EVP should show up in how you write job ads, how managers talk to candidates and how you introduce new team members. It should be more than just a line on your website.
Learning how to create a strong employer value proposition is about pulling all this together and making sure it reflects what it’s really like to work for you.
What to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is being too generic. “We offer a great culture and career opportunities” might sound fine, but it doesn’t actually say anything. The best EVPs sound like something only your business would say.
Another common problem is inconsistency. If your recruitment messaging promises flexibility but your managers don’t support it in practice, new hires won’t stay long. Your EVP needs to match the reality inside your business.
How MYHR Can Help
We work with businesses to shape EVPs that are practical, genuine and fit the way they actually work. That means starting with the people, building on what’s already strong and helping you describe it clearly – so you can attract candidates who’ll thrive in your business, not just apply and leave.
If you’re looking at how to create a strong employer value proposition and want a bit of guidance or an outside view, we can help.
Learn more about how we support clients through our Employer Value Proposition service.