It turns out that ex-employees are a goldmine of future brand ambassadors. Any former employees who might have had a great experience are usually inclined to advocate for new employees, customers, and future partnership opportunities. 

Because of these reasons, ex-employees need to cultivate to become advocates of your company and your brand. Some companies mistreat their employees during their tenure and even more so when they leave the company. 

Companies should always value their employees, even when they’re leaving, because it is the last experience that an employee remembers the most. An employee remembers how they felt when leaving the company, magnifying how the company treated them overall. 

So, considering this, companies must strive to treat their employees well since these employees will make or break the company’s reputation in the outside world. There may come a time where the companies might need to hire them back.

The Significant Areas of Influence Ex-Employees:

According to a Corporate Responsibility magazine survey, potential employees are five times more likely to decline an offer from a company with a bad reputation, even if they are out of a job. This survey also clearly indicates that exiting employees hold power over a company’s future recruiting efforts.

• Recruiters

Your former employees know the organization’s culture, your business’ values, and the different roles people play within the organization. Their advice and referrals turn out to be more relevant to headhunters than believed in times past.

• Future Clients

Sometimes your former employees can become your future clients or be senior management on your client’s side. It is where your relationship with the ex-employees comes into play. A healthy association with your former employees can truly help grow your business because trust already exists.

• Brand Ambassadors

If your ex-employees depart happily on good terms, there is a higher probability of their staying in touch with your company. They are very likely to speak well of the company. When they get referrals for either business or employment, they will refer these people to the company. It usually increases the desire to work with or for the company.  

Therefore, HR professionals must consider facts about how ex-employees might portray the company to outsiders. Departing employees must have the best experience. An HR department must be proactive and leave no stone unturned to make the process a positive and supportive experience. Doing so will surely turn their former employees into brand ambassadors rather than reputation killers.