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The most important things applicants look for in a new job.
Above all else, applicants want to make sure their compensation needs are met. According to survey data1, 23% of job seekers report compensation as the biggest influencer in applying for a job. Obviously this doesn’t come as a big surprise (I mean that’s why we work in the first place, right?), but in terms of attracting the best talent, 27% of job seekers said seeing expected compensation on the job posting influences them to apply. It’s better to be transparent from the get-go about compensation to attract the most qualified applicants.
What was more surprising was the second biggest thing job seekers look for in a new job.
Based on survey data1, 22% of job seekers point to benefits as the most important factor in deciding to apply for a job. As you may already know, clear and accessible benefits are our bread and butter at Pendant. If you want the best applicants for your open job role, including your specific benefits can make all the difference.
Let’s run through a hypothetical scenario–which company would apply for between these two options?
Company A: Senior Project Manager. Expected salary $120K. Medical benefits included.
Company B: Senior Project Manager. Expected salary $118K.
There’s no question which job seems more appealing, right? Fun fact: that exact list of benefits is why I currently work where I work instead of taking slightly higher compensation elsewhere.
The only downside of having so many great benefits? It can be hard for an employee to understand. We asked 1,300 U.S. educators how well they understood their pension benefits, and this is what we got:
The goal of Pendant is to flip those numbers and have your job applicants and employees better understand just how great it is to work for your company.
A growing number of people (~18% of job seekers1) cite a flexible work schedule as the single most important factor in applying for a new job. Stand out to your potential employees as an employer that embraces the new wave of work flexibility. A recent survey from Deloitte2 revealed that 94% of U.S. professionals said they would benefit from flexible work. It’s becoming increasingly clear–if you want to attract the best talent, flexible work makes your job posting significantly more attractive.
The next biggest factor for job seekers is your employer brand. According to a survey from Glassdoor3, 90% of job seekers use company reviews and ratings to decide where to apply. Monitor your company’s reputation on websites like Glassdoor and listen to the concerns of folks that have come and gone. Keep in mind that applicants can also leave bad reviews, so make sure to communicate and be considerate throughout the hiring process.
If you want your job to stand out even more, consider adding an incentive to your job posting. Jobs on Indeed with hiring incentives have more than doubled since 20204 as employers look to stand out more from the crowd. Just make sure you don’t include signing bonuses on the job title when you post to job boards because major job boards (like Indeed) can flag that for spam. Mark any signing bonuses or incentives in the appropriate spot on your job posting.
To get the best applicants for your job posting, make sure that you make compensation transparent and clear and shout your benefits from the rooftops. Give potential employees as much autonomy as you can over their schedules and watch your reputation grow as more and more happy employees enter your doors (either physically or virtually!). Assuming you nail the first four suggestions, you shouldn’t even need to worry about offering an incentive–your reputation will be enough to attract the best talent.
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