People Don’t Accept Jobs–They Buy Into Stories: Let’s Talk About How Your EVP Brings That Story to Life
- Marcy Stoudt
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
When was the last time you paused to read your own job posting—not just for accuracy, but for impact?
Most companies advertise jobs with a long list of responsibilities, a few lines about the company, and maybe a bullet or two on culture. But here’s the reality: top talent isn’t just looking for a job—they’re looking for a reason to care.
Especially in roles like sales, where energy, connection, and belief fuel performance, you're not just hiring someone who can sell. You're trying to attract someone who wants to sell for you.
That’s where your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) comes in.
Your EVP is the answer to the question:Why should someone choose to work here, for you, and not somewhere else?
It’s more than perks or pay. It’s the feeling of being part of something with purpose. It’s the clarity around how their work will matter—and how your company will support their growth.
A Lesson from the Dot-Com Days
In 1999, I moved to California during the dot-com boom. Everyone was hiring technologists, and I was sent to an underperforming office in a market that should’ve been exploding. Only five years into my career, I didn’t know what an Employee Value Proposition was—but I knew I wanted to help my team succeed. So I jumped into recruiting.
One of our clients was hiring a pretty standard role: an Oracle developer. The job description was generic, the pay was solid, and the assumption was simple—find someone with the skills, and they’ll say yes.
But after my first few consultant interviews, something clicked. Not every developer was motivated by the same thing. For some, it wasn’t about the paycheck at all. It was about joining a company with vision. Being part of something growing. Having their name attached to a product that mattered.
That’s when I realized: people don’t join jobs—they join stories.And if the story isn’t clear, the best people will quietly walk away.
Your Employee Value Prop Is Your Competitive Advantage
When your EVP is clear and infused into your job postings, interviews, and onboarding, it does three important things:
Inspires alignment – You attract people who believe in your mission, not just your product.
Drives urgency – The right candidates don’t just apply; they’re excited to start.
Builds loyalty – When people join for the right reasons, they tend to stay longer and perform better.
So, before you post your next opening, ask yourself:
Why would someone want to be part of this team?
What will make them feel connected and inspired?
Are we selling a job—or offering a career that matters?
Because when hiring is treated as a transaction, you get applicants.But when it’s driven by vision and purpose, you get believers.
At Revel Search, we don’t just fill roles—we help our clients tell their story. And when that story resonates, the right people show up, ready to grow, lead, and win.
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Marcy Stoudt is a seasoned sales leader dedicated to shaping the future of talent acquisition and executive coaching. As the founder of Revel Search and Revel Coach, Marcy collaborates with corporate clients to develop innovative strategies for attracting, advancing, and retaining top-tier talent.
During her 22 years at Allegis Group, Marcy was TEKsystems's first female Vice President. She led a team of 300 producers and delivered four consecutive years of revenue results at 18% CAGR, averaging $320 million annually. While at MarketSource, she established the Customer Experience Strategy for the Target Mobile outsourced sales team at 1,540 Target locations, fostering executive-level relationships with Target and Apple.
The Revel Coach™ Blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not mental health, financial, business or legal advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any medical, mental or emotional condition. The information presented here is not a guarantee that you will obtain any results or earn any money using our content.
