Employers don’t know what professionals find attractive

New survey reveals that many companies misjudge how important location and flexible hours are to employees

Despite 89 per cent of UK employers claiming to know what professionals find most attractive in a job offer, new data reveals that two fifths (40.4 per cent) actually get it wrong.

That’s according independent job site CV-Library, whose latest survey asked 1,200 job hunters what they believe to be the most important aspects of a job offer.

It also asked 300 employers what they believe professionals deem to be the most important.

When comparing the responses, the data reveals some discrepancies. While 81.6 per cent of professionals voted salary as the most important factor, only 59.6 per cent of employers thought this would be the case.

Other key findings include:

■ Employers believe location to be the least important part of a job offer (5.6 per cent), while professionals vote this as their second most important factor (74.7 per cent)

■ Nearly half (48.5 per cent) of professionals placed working hours as the third most important factor

■ Flexible working is crucial to one in four job hunters (22.5 per cent), yet only 13.6 per cent of employers believed this to be a priority

■ Finally, 21.1 per cent of employers said benefits and workplace perks are an attractive factor, compared to 18.5 per cent of workers

“With so much uncertainty across the job market, it’s crucial that businesses do all they can to attract talented recruits,” says Lee Biggins, CEO of CV-Library. “Misjudging what candidates are looking for in a job offer can have harmful repercussions for an employer.

“Employers need a clear understanding of what professionals want from a job, so they can ensure they’re investing in the right areas and offering competitive packages.”

Biggins concludes: “Today’s professionals know what they want from a job offer and those that are aware of the current climate also know they can afford to be picky with their choices.

“With many nervous to switch roles amidst ongoing uncertainty, it’s going to take a competitive package to encourage them to leave their current position.

“For this reason, your job descriptions need to clearly show the salary, location, job title and working hours, otherwise you risk losing out on applications.

“Make this information easy to find and don’t forget to shout about the great perks you have on offer as well.”

“Employers need a clear understanding of what professionals want from a job, so they can ensure they are investing in the right areas”

Lee Biggins CV-Library