The landscape of talent acquisition has changed. Employers no longer are looking for “butts in seats” and candidates are no longer looking for just a paycheck. Companies are prioritizing value add when it comes to hiring. Will this individual be engaged in our team and company community? Are they committed to our mission? And candidates value work-life balance, flexibility, and opportunities for growth and development now more than ever. What does this mean for companies that are growing?
Competition for quality talent these days is tight, and largely candidate driven. Therefore, companies must carefully brand themselves and market their employee value proposition to candidates. As a job seeker, you must reflect on what you are looking for in a new role or company to find the right fit.
On the outside looking in, companies with a niche market attract talent and business when they lean heavily on their specific capabilities and expertise, and surely candidates want to work at a company that claims they are the best in the industry. But how does a company market themselves when they can’t neatly put all their capabilities into one bucket? Should a candidate be wary of joining a company that has control in multiple, diverse markets?
Companies need to embrace their versatility and differentiate their company brand as a place for everyone. That’s exactly what Serco did.
Serco is a global service provider with over 50,000 employees worldwide, including 9,000+ in the Americas Division representing the U.S. and Canada. The company supports key government programs and some seriously cool work across the globe to better the lives and security of citizens everywhere. In the Americas Division, Serco supports primarily defense, transportation, and citizen services. They serve every branch of the U.S. Military, plus federal, state, and local governments, Canadian federal and provincial governments, as well as commercial customers. Talk about a lot of buckets! Over the past couple years, Serco streamlined their capabilities into distinct business segments and saw their diverse service offerings as a challenge when it came to marketing their employer brand to candidates.
Cut to late 2021, Serco launched an employer brand project and focus group to uncover what made Serco an employer of choice for its employees. They went directly to the source and asked their employees what made Serco special and what was it about the employee experience that kept them engaged, focused on innovation, and committed to their customers. What did it really mean to work at Serco?
They found that what makes Serco unique is its diverse offerings, because with that comes vast opportunity for the company and for its people. Serco can chase and win contracts that other companies can’t because of their proven track record in multiple industries, and Serco has supportive programs that promote career growth and mobility. If you’re looking for a career change, you don’t have to leave the company to find it. Serco is a place you can count on for experiences and opportunities that support your future.
Aside from better understanding the employee experience, the results from the focus group revealed emotions and a connection to the organization that highlights a truly unique part of Serco’s culture. Serco employees are loyal. To their colleagues, their leadership, and their project. Serco employees care and trust one another, and these findings were the same across business functions and seniority levels. Finally, there is a mutual understanding that ties back to the mission of their project and the mission of the company – Service. Serco is an acronym for “Service Company,” and that is exactly what they provide to their customers and fellow citizens every day.
Serco not only sets themselves apart by being a place for everyone, but they also set themselves apart by being a place where people belong. Serco’s workplace culture embraces diversity and fosters equity, respect, and belonging for every individual. They are committed to creating an inclusive environment that proudly celebrates the perspectives and backgrounds that each employee brings to work every day. From employee resource groups (ERGs) to networking and social events that promote important conversations and awareness, Serco provides their team opportunities to connect and learn from each other.
One ERG, SercoVets, provides a forum for their veterans, military spouses, and allies to find a sense of community and camaraderie among their peers. Approximately 25 percent of Serco’s 9,000+ employees are veterans, reservists, or military family members. SercoVets offers employees an array of veteran and military spouse initiatives and activities, transition support, professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Serco earned the Department of Labor Gold Medallion in 2021, the top award of 5 stars from the VETS Indexes for 2022, and Best for Vets employer for 2021. Serco is also a Military Spouse Employment Partner (MSEP) for their commitment to hiring and retaining veterans and veteran spouses. View more of Serco’s awards here.
When you join Serco, you join a team with a shared mission to support their customers and programs, and to also encourage each other and to come together as a team. Working together as one team, Serco can enhance the employee experience, improve the value of their solutions to better serve the missions of their customers, and make a difference.
Should a candidate be wary of joining a company that has control in multiple, diverse markets? I think the better question should be, why would a candidate want to fit under just one bucket?
When it comes to Serco, their priorities for the business and their people are in lock step. Embracing the diversity of the work that they do unifies them as a team. It’s their extensive knowledge, as well as their well-rounded and vast expertise of their markets and customers that create a deep sense of purpose. Serco is a company that is growing and making waves in the industry. Want to be a part of it? Serco has a place for you. Discover your place at Serco.
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