Johnson & Johnson: A value matcher tool that explains the company’s credo
Georgia Barrett
J&J asks all job applicants to prove that they share the company’s ideals
The feature
Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has a quick and easy multiple-choice quiz on its Careers page, which launches automatically when a candidate applies for a job. The careers portal remembers past applicants, so jobseekers only have to complete the quiz once, even if they are applying for multiple roles or revisiting the site to complete an application bit by bit.
The 19-question quiz consists of scenario-based questions to see what jobseekers would do in different situations, such as “Which of the following is MORE motivating to you: doing work that enables me to support myself and my family, OR doing work that will help myself and my family while helping the broader community.”
There is a progress bar at the bottom to help jobseekers know where they are in the quiz and avoid frustration.
It is explained at the beginning of the quiz that “it is important that our employees share these ideals” and that the quiz gives jobseekers the chance to “interview us as much as we are interviewing you”.
The takeaway
In our recent research report: What the Next Generation Wants from Online Corporate Communications, we found that young jobseekers want to work for a company that shares their views, values and beliefs. And there is an expectation that companies will meet jobseekers on this personal level: through tailored communications that treat jobseekers as individuals.
J&J’s quiz shows this two-way street between candidate and employer in action. It is ultimately a compatibility test, to see if they are a good fit.
For a pharmaceutical company and vaccine-producer like J&J, it is vital that all employees share their ideals. The J&J Credo states that the company’s first responsibility is to the patients, doctors and nurses, mothers and fathers using its products, and that all employees will strive to meet their needs to the highest quality. Shared values, then, have a tangible impact on patient safety.
However, we think this emphasis on shared values has a wider importance and is relevant to all sectors.
In our Next Generation Report, we spoke to numerous young people from around the world about what they want from a company when they are searching for a job. Young jobseekers are aware that simply stating these ideals on a website is not enough; companies must demonstrate that they truly mean them.
A quiz that will reject candidates who do not meet the cut is a compelling sign of “putting your money where your mouth is”.
View Johnson & Johnson’s quiz by logging into its careers portal.
Bowen Craggs Club members can read the Next Generation Report on the Club members portal.
Non-members can access the report by joining the Bowen Craggs Club
