Faced with a competitive hiring climate, employers are quick to sing their companies' praises to prospective job candidates, suggests a new survey. Nearly all (98 percent) of the executives polled said it is more important today to sell applicants on the benefits of working at their firms than it was just three years ago.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies.

Executives were asked, "How important is it to sell the benefits of working at your company to candidates today compared to three years ago?" Their responses:

• Very important - 69%
• Somewhat important - 29%
• Somewhat unimportant - 2%
• Not at all important - 0%

"Companies known for their ability to attract and hire good employees are always recruiting -- even during the job interview," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies® (IDG Books Worldwide). "In a competitive employment environment, there are no guarantees a candidate will accept your offer, so employers are pulling out all the stops to draw the best talent."

Messmer recommends companies prepare a list of selling points for job applicants. "Candidates today are concerned with more than salary alone. Hiring managers must demonstrate that their firm provides an outstanding work environment, continual learning opportunities and a clear path to advancement." He offers these tips:

• Accentuate the Positive -- Job seekers inquire as frequently about corporate culture during interviews as benefits and salary. Highlight those aspects of working at your firm that are both fun and professionally rewarding.
• Think Benefits -- More and more companies are getting creative in their benefits offerings. In addition to traditional benefits, emphasize more innovative perks such as flexible hours, telecommuting opportunities, gym memberships or concierge services.
• Create a buzz -- Get the word out to the public that your company is a great place to work. Offer bonuses or incentives to employees who recruit others to work for your company.

Article courtesy of Accountemps, which has more than 280 offices throughout North America, Europe and Australia.