FREDERICK, Md. – In today’s competitive labor market, transparency and authenticity are proving to be major deciding factors for professionals looking for their next career move. According to a new survey released Tuesday by employment platform iHire, a staggering 81% of job seekers say they are more likely to apply for a position if the job advertisement explicitly mentions the company’s core values.
The study, which polled 933 U.S. candidates across 57 industries, highlights a growing demand among workers to align themselves with organizations that emphasize corporate culture and employer branding.
However, the survey also exposed a significant gap between what companies promise and what they actually deliver. Nearly half of all respondents—45%—revealed they have previously worked for an employer that possessed a written set of core values but failed to live by them or actively demonstrate them in the day-to-day workplace. Conversely, only 32% of respondents reported working for companies that successfully practiced what they preached.
“A company’s core values should be the living and breathing foundation of everything they do, shaping how they make decisions, treat employees, deliver new products and services, and even hire,” said Steve Flook, President and CEO of iHire.
Flook warned that failing to maintain these standards can backfire severely on management. “When an organization does not practice what it preaches, it can hurt employee engagement and morale, create a toxic workplace, and make it harder to attract and retain top talent.”
For organizations looking to revamp their recruitment strategies, the survey also identified what today’s workforce values most. When asked to name the traits they look for in a prospective employer, candidates overwhelmingly prioritized the following top five corporate virtues:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Teamwork
- Growth
- Honesty
The findings suggest that simply using buzzwords to attract applications is no longer enough; true retention relies on leadership accountability.
“iHire encourages employers to clearly identify a set of core values and consistently put them into action at every level of the organization, from leadership decisions to everyday employee interactions,” Flook concluded. “Those who do so will build stronger cultures, earn greater employee trust, and establish work environments where everyone can thrive.”
To dive deeper into iHire’s survey results, visit our Employer Resource Center.