Investment management professionals keep eye out

52% of investment management professionals are keeping their eye out for a new position although 23% are hesitant about moving jobs because of the current economic situation - with a further 25% admitting they are stuck in a comfort zone.

Only 10% of the respondents are exactly where they want to be in their career through active career management, with a further 14% admitting their career success is down to luck rather than design. 52% believe they are on the right track however, 24% do not think their career has developed in the way they would have wished.

Seven in ten investment management professionals admitted they were either slightly or very concerned about their current job security. When asked how soon after starting a new job are you tempted to look at new positions/assignments 30% admitted they are always on the look out for bigger and better things whilst 59% only look for a new job if they know that have made the wrong decision. However, 11% would always stay for as long as possible with an employer for the sake of their CV.

The majority (70%) would consider taking a temporary position no matter what stage they were at in their career however, 15% would only take a temporary investment management role if they were relocating and a further 15% would only consider it if they were made redundant from their permanent role.

Interestingly, half of the respondents would network more with senior management in their next job, whilst only 6% would socialise more as a way of climbing the corporate ladder. A quarter would steer clear of office politics and 17% would voice their opinions more forcefully.

Workers were asked what was most important to them in their next career move. Over half opted for promotion prospects, 20% for an increase in salary, 16% for more variety, and 13% for work life balance. Interestingly nearly a third of the respondents indicated that working in Edinburgh would be an attractive alternative to working in London. Frustrations with living and working in London included public transport (44%), rising house prices (35%), long hours (13%) and the hectic pace of life (10%). However, when asked on average how many hours the respondents worked a massive eight in ten indicated it was less than 48 hours a week.