What is your main driver when searching for a new role?

08/12/22

The recruitment market is currently facing a talent shortage, making it difficult to attract applicants. Given the recent cost-of-living crisis and the UK entering a recession, candidates are more apprehensive about moving into a new role with so much uncertainty.

James Dubowski, our Senior HR Recruitment Consultant for the Home Counties, conducted a recent poll on LinkedIn asking what the main driver would be for candidates searching for a new opportunity…

Work life balance (39%)

When searching for a new role ‘work life balance’ ranked highest, with 39% of respondents selecting this as their main driver. While there are many aspects that could contribute to this, the underlying factor appears to be that employers are demanding too much from their people.

It’s good to push employees to help them reach their full potential as part of their development, but a business needs to remember not to go too far. If an employee is working longer hours every day to cover workload, the chances are that too much is being asked of them. Spending more time at work eats into people’s personal lives and is known to have a negative impact on health too.

Wellbeing is starting to become a priority for many businesses, and is worth investing in. Looking after your employees will help retain them whilst also attracting candidates searching for a new role with a company that cares.

Salary (26%)

As always, salary remains an important factor for those looking to move into a new role, with 26% of respondents stating it as their main driver. Given the cost-of-living crisis, it is to be expected that candidates are looking for higher salaries.

The poll suggests that over a quarter of employees are unhappy with their current salary and will look to move as a result. It’s estimated that losing an employee can cost a business up to two times their salary to replace. While the economy makes it difficult for businesses to invest in salary increases, offering an increase now can be beneficial in the long run.

Lack of progression (22%)

Are opportunities for employees to progress available within your business? The poll found over a fifth (22%) of respondents stated ‘lack of progression’ as the main driver for them. Career development is becoming more important, and if a company cannot provide opportunities to progress then they risk losing employees to a business that can.

When searching for a new role, a potential candidate will want to know if the chance for progression is there. Explaining the responsibilities required and sharing other how other employees have progressed will give an idea of how they can progress with your business.

Lack of homeworking (13%)

The pandemic forced businesses to implement remote-working, and many employees became accustomed to this. Some companies never went back into the office, meaning their people have worked at home for two or three years now and it has become their way of life.

When looking for a new opportunity, candidates will often search for roles that incorporate remote working, or at least a hybrid approach. In the poll, 13% said ‘lack of homeworking’ was the main driver in prompting them to look for a new position. Flexibility and the ability to work remotely are quite important factors for many candidates in the modern world, so businesses need to offer this in order to attract the best talent.

Attracting talent is extremely difficult for businesses at the moment, but we hope this has given you some insight into what the main drivers are for candidates when they are searching for a new job. Putting these points into practice will help your business stand out from the crowd and find the best talent, whilst also ensuring your current employees feel valued and stay with you for the long-term.