Clarity, Consistency, and Coherence

Too often, employer branding in companies kicks in when hiring gets tough and ends with the welcome kit (the branded mug, the notebook and the branded pen).

But the truth is: your brand already exists whether you’ve defined it or not.

It lives in what your team says about you, how your hiring managers show up in interviews, what ex-employees share with their networks, and the feeling your candidate journey leaves behind.

When companies start hiring without that foundation they fall back on instinct. And instinct, as Kahneman and Tversky taught us in The Undoing Project, is full of bias.

That’s why at Marathon Talent, we believe the most powerful employer brands start with clarity, consistency, and coherence.

1. Clarity: Know who you are (and who you’re not)

You can’t attract the right people if you’re unclear on what makes your company unique.

Not just your mission or values, but your actual way of working how decisions get made, what leadership looks like, how people grow inside your org.

Clarity means being honest about:

• What kind of talent thrives with you

• What kind of environment you offer

• How that evolves with your stage or growth

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real.

2. Consistency: Say it the same way, everywhere

If your careers page says one thing, your Linkedin Page say another, and your interview experience tells a third story; candidates notice.

Consistency builds trust.

It shows up in:

• The tone of your job posts

• The way your team describes the company on LinkedIn

• How a recruiter makes a candidate feel

A strong employer brand doesn’t just live in employee events birthday shoutouts, Halloween contests, or year-end parties; it shows up in daily interactions, inside and out.

3. Coherence: Align what you say with what people feel

You can have clarity and consistency, but if your employee experience doesn’t match the promise, your brand breaks.

Coherence means your values aren’t just words on a slide. They’re embedded in how people are treated, how they grow, how leaders behave, and how decisions are made.

It’s where the internal and external finally meet. And when they align, that’s when your brand becomes a true magnet.

Becoming an employee destination isn’t a campaign

It’s not something you launch for a hiring sprint. It’s a long game built through intentional storytelling, honest reflection, and the courage to lead with who you really are.

At Marathon Talent, we believe employer branding isn’t about being trendy it’s about being trustworthy, a long term strategy.

When you lead with clarity, show up with consistency, and operate with coherence, great talent doesn’t just apply.

They stay. They grow. And they bring others with them.