Your company’s reputation can either draw talent or scare them off.

Did that thought ever cross your mind? If not, here is why it should.

– If you were starting out on a career path, would you really want to work for an Enron- type organization? I mean, come on, do you really need a resume stain on your next career choice?

– Who would want to join a company where the stigma will tarnish you by implication?

These are the immediate thoughts that crossed my mind when I read a blog post from Hill& Knowlton.

They commissioned a research organization to conduct a survey of more than 500 students from some of the world’s leading business schools, to find out how important reputation was in attracting talent.

Here are some of their findings:

• Reputation matters, and the reputation of the company is based on far more than just its financial performance and the quality of its products and services.
• The employee experience matters deeply. Talent is not prepared to sit and wait for the golden opportunity of 20 years hence; they want it now.
• Values matter too – everything from ethics and corporate governance to environmental policy and social responsibility. The reason it matters so much is that the leaders of the future have a clear understanding of the link between reputation and financial performance. 

If that does not make you think, what will?