Top 5 factors that make job seekers more likely to apply
As a recruiter or hiring manager, you know how important it is to attract top talent. And right now, there are more jobs than people to fill them. Skilled job seekers can pick and choose, forcing companies to step up their game if they hope to woo them.
It’s not hard to guess what job seekers look for in a job. The most common factor that people focus on is the most basic advantage of employment: salary. Recruiting site Glassdoor issued a press release last month that confirms salary is a top factor, but there’s more to it.
People actually make their decisions about what jobs to apply for based slightly more on the overall benefits—not just pay. The site’s survey breaks down what job seekers look for in job ads, what makes them likely to apply, and how men and women differ with regard to recruiting efforts.
Top factors in job ads
1. Salaries – 67%
2. Benefits – 63%
3. Job location – 59%
4. Commute time – 43%
5. Employee reviews – 32%
Top factors to apply
1. Attractive benefits and perks – 48%
2. Convenient, easy commute – 47%
3. High salaries – 46%
4. Good work/life balance – 43%
5. Work from home flexibility – 41%
When it comes down to a candidate pulling the trigger, a high salary doesn’t even clinch first or second place. It ranks third. This doesn’t mean a job description should only advertise benefits, perks, and location though.
The Glassdoor survey found that when it comes to what employees and job seekers look for when considering their long-term potential with an employer, more than two in five (44%) say that transparency on pay is critical.
With the scales tipped slightly more in the favor of applicants in many fields, it’s clear employers need to be transparent. Not only will this tactic help companies land more of the well-qualified candidates they seek, but it will also serve as a filter. Advertising the salary range and benefits will attract candidates who find them favorable, and it will weed out others who wouldn’t have accepted an offer anyway after learning those details.
How men and women differ
As the Glassdoor press release says,
“Just as it’s important for those in HR and recruitment to understand what information is important to job seekers and how job seekers are making decisions about a company, they must also consider how audiences may differ in how they research jobs and what is important to them.”
For example, almost half of female workers and job seekers say that a remote (work-from-home) option is desirable. The option would make them more likely to apply for a job that offered it than one that didn’t. However, only 35% of men would be attracted by the option.
Knowing the factors most enticing to job seekers can help you be more strategic in advertising open roles. Including all of the factors uncovered in Glassdoor’s survey can bog down your job ad, and it might take some time for company-wide adoption, but just incorporating some of the features can help you draw in the talent you want.
Do you agree with the survey? Let us know the factors that matter to you when applying for a job in the comments.