Despite 89% of UK employers claiming to know what professionals find most attractive in a job offer, new data reveals that two fifths (40.4%) actually get it wrong. That’s according to the latest survey from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job site.
The 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% of professionals voted salary as the most important factor, only 59.6% 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%), while professionals vote this as their second most important factor (74.7%)
- What’s more, nearly half (48.5%) of professionals placed working hours as the third most important part of a job offer
- Flexible working is crucial to one in four job hunters (22.5%), yet only 13.6% of employers believed this to be a priority
- Finally, 21.1% of employers said benefits and workplace perks are an attractive factor, compared to 18.5% of workers
Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments:
“With so much uncertainty across the job market right now, it’s crucial that businesses are doing all they can to attract talented new recruits. Misjudging what candidates are looking for in a job offer can have harmful repercussions for an employer. As such, employers need to have 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.”
What’s more, professionals were asked to reveal what they look for when scanning a job description, with 91.6% saying they look for set criteria. Interestingly, 51.7% even said they wouldn’t apply to a job if the description didn’t contain the following:
- Location – 84.7%
- Salary – 77.6%
- Job title – 43.8%
- Working hours – 41.7%
- Flexible working – 22.5%
Biggins concludes:
“Today’s professionals know what they want from a job offer and those that are aware of the current climate also know that 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!”
About CV-Library
CV-Library is one of the UK’s largest online job sites and attracts over 4.3 million unique job seekers every month. Founded by Lee Biggins in 2000, CV-Library is the UK’s leading independent online job board with a database of over 13 million CVs.
