How CRS uses recruiting to drive brand strategy

“It’s key to have that employment brand and have that tied into values and mission of the organization,” said Pamela O’Connor, executive vice president of human resources for Catholic Relief Services. Devex spoke with O’Connor at the Devex Career Fair in Nairobi about how she is uniting her recruiting team with an CRS’ organizational-wide branding strategy. O’Connor, who came from private industry, said it’s important to start at root of the process, from job descriptions to posting procedures, and to tie these procedures to the mission and values of the organization, especially when CRS is pushing their branding strategy out in 100 countries in three different languages. It’s doable, she said, but it’s challenging and also means having the right people on board. The worst thing that could happen is inviting people on board who aren’t aware of the mission or can’t stand behind it, she said. To avoid this, she encourages her recruiting team to be on constant lookout for the next best talent, as recruiting isn’t a nine to five job, it’s a 24/7 job, she said. Please leave a comment below, tweet @devexcareers or join the Devex LinkedIn group for recruiters. See more: Out of the office: Why field work is crucial for recruiters Why recruiting matters