Applying to HootSuite For The Wrong Reasons: The Secret to Company Retention by @JamesRCS

By Social Media Manager - James R.C. Smith - Vancouver, BC

As a a user and indebted advocate of HootSuite, I understand how they have become a worldwide brand. The tools are incredibly useful in day-to-day social media management and create brand ambassadors by offering affordable online training courses, complete with a badge that users are eager to share as a sign of industry knowledge and understanding of the product.

Attractive work environments

Since I have lived in Vancouver, I have seen on the news, quite regularly, that the HootSuite HQ is the place to work. The beer on-tap, the yoga studio, nap area and the trendy work environment. At a recent hiring drive, the company advertised around 100 jobs, to which around 1,000 hopefuls queued outside. While only a talented few got to the next stages of the hiring process, many were attracted by the novelty of the forward-thinking company and the in-house perks that come with working there.

Don't be blinded

However, it is incredibly important to remember that for a long and sustainable workplace, the trappings of a fashionable environment, complete with yoga balls and pool tables are in no way a replacement for a structure of support, training and loyalty.

I have learnt a lot through my career (so far) from working in a few very different roles. I have realised that one must look beyond the bells and whistles of an attractive office. There absolutely has to be an established training procedure, a hierarchical support structure and a network of employees who believe in the company, their work, the product and each other.

Know what's important

If the lovely people at HootSuite are reading this, then ‘hi!’. I’m not suggesting for a second that the brand loyalty and job satisfaction isn’t high on their list of key priorities, in fact I’m certain it is. This article is a note to the job-hunters that, perhaps aren’t selected for the bright-lights of the Vancouver-based social monitoring solution.  Don’t fret, although your next employer may not provide alcohol on-tap, they hopefully will provide you with training and continued motivation to look forward to Monday mornings.