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Making offices a recruitment tool
Employer brand

Making offices a recruitment tool

Transform your offices into a recruitment tool: the Kytom method to attract IT candidates and executives, measured ROI, delivery in 12 weeks on average.

11 cities covered
1 200+ spaces transformed
66 passionate people

"How to get candidates to come in"

What our clients tell us.

You will recognise your situation if…

  • Interview-to-hire conversion rate below 40%.
  • IT candidates who cancel after visiting the premises.
  • Office photos missing or outdated on Welcome to the Jungle.
  • HR director called in urgently before every strategic visit.

Issues and impacts

Hidden cost

An unfilled senior developer position costs on average 500 euros per day of project delay according to Syntec Numerique. With a recruitment timeline extended by 45 days due to unattractive premises, the bill exceeds 22,000 euros per position. Multiply by 8 recruitments a year and the loss reaches 180,000 euros.

Human risk

According to <a href="https://www.anact.fr/ressources" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ANACT</a>, 38% of early resignations (under 12 months) are linked to a gap between the employer promise and the daily reality of the office. Early turnover costs 6 to 9 months of fully loaded salary. An executive at 60,000 euros thus represents 35,000 euros lost with every departure avoided.

Reputational risk

Glassdoor and Indeed now aggregate reviews about premises. A rating below 3.5/5 on the work environment reduces the volume of unsolicited applications by 28% according to LinkedIn Talent Solutions. For an SME of 80 employees, the acquisition cost per qualified CV then climbs from 90 to 140 euros.

How Kytom approaches it

Kytom treats offices as an employer brand tool integrated into the candidate journey. Since 2006, our 11 agencies have supported more than 1,200 clients on projects where the candidate visit is scripted from the programming phase: a photogenic reception area, a product demonstration room, collaborative spaces visible from the entrance, signage that carries your messages. We calibrate lighting to 500 lux on showcase workstations and feature reference furniture brands (Vitra, Herman Miller) where they are seen. Our professional photo shoots then feed your job ads on Welcome to the Jungle, LinkedIn and your careers site, with measured returns on the interview-to-hire conversion rate.

Our method

  1. 1. Diagnose

    Audit of the on-site candidate journey: entrance, waiting room, interview rooms, spaces glimpsed during the visit. Interviews with the HR director and hiring managers. Deliverable: mapping of the 15 visual touchpoints and a scoring grid benchmarked against direct competitors in the employment area.

  2. 2. Frame

    Programming workshop with management, HR and HR marketing. Definition of the 3 employer brand messages to materialise, the priority profiles to attract, and the target budget (generally 800 to 1,500 euros excl. VAT/sq m). Deliverable: functional programme and moodboard approved by the management committee.

  3. 3. Design

    Architectural design incorporating visit scenography, calibrated lighting, controlled acoustics (35 dB in the interview area). Selection of reference furniture in the places that are seen, signage that carries your messages. Deliverable: plans, photorealistic 3D perspectives, materials library file and detailed schedule over 12 weeks.

  4. 4. Deliver

    Construction execution management, trade coordination, quality acceptance. Professional photo shoot after delivery to feed the careers site, LinkedIn, Welcome to the Jungle. Deliverable: operational premises, 40 royalty-free HD photos and a candidate visit kit handed over to the HR director.

Cost and ROI

Cost range per sq m
800 to 1,500 euros excl. VAT/sq m
Depending on the level of finish and the share of reference furniture visible to candidates.
Timeline
12 weeks on average
From programme signing to delivery, photo shoot included.
Typical ROI
Payback in 2 to 3 years
Through reduced recruitment timeline and measured decrease in early turnover.

Anonymised field feedback

"Since the delivery, our developer candidates accept the offer right at the end of the visit. The conversion rate went from 38% to 71% in eight months, without increasing the salaries offered."

38% to 71%
Interview-to-hire conversion rate
-42 days on IT profiles
Average recruitment timeline
-28% over 12 months
Acquisition cost per qualified CV

Frequently asked questions

Which spaces should be prioritised for the candidate visit?

Concentrate 70% of the signature budget on the 4 zones seen during the visit: reception, arrival corridor, interview room, coffee area. According to CBRE, these 150 sq m generate 80% of candidate perception. Back-office open spaces can remain understated.

Should you renovate before or recruit first?

Renovate first if your premises are more than 8 years old and your interview-to-hire conversion rate is below 50%. The return on investment, measured over 24 months, then systematically exceeds the cost of the works for a team of more than 40 people.

How do you measure the ROI of an employer brand project?

Track 4 indicators over 12 months: interview-to-hire conversion rate, average recruitment timeline, acquisition cost per qualified CV, first-year turnover. A cumulative improvement of 25% generally covers the initial investment on 850 sq m.

Do environmental certifications carry weight in recruitment?

Yes, particularly among the under-35s. 49% of candidates check CSR commitments before accepting an offer. A recognised environmental certification at Very Good or Excellent level then becomes a concrete argument in interviews.

What role does signature furniture play?

Signature furniture (Vitra, Herman Miller, Knoll) concentrated in the zones that are seen creates an immediate signal of quality. Budget 1,200 to 2,500 euros per showcase workstation, versus 600 euros in the back area. The investment remains marginal within the overall budget.

How do you involve the HR director in the fit-out project?

Involve the HR director from the programming phase, not at final validation. A 3-hour workshop is enough to map the target candidate journey and arbitrate priorities. This approach avoids 80% of late rework and speeds up commissioning.