5 Key Factors Candidates Consider When Choosing a New Job: Insights for Hiring Managers and Job Seekers

One of the first things us Recruiters ask our Hiring Managers: “What are some reasons candidates would be excited to work for the company?”

As a Hiring Manager, it’s very important to be able to answer this question with multiple selling points as if you were a candidate interviewing for the role and someone who is interested in joining the company.

As a prospective candidate, it is worth your time to put some thought into what is important to you in a future role while completing your job search to make sure it aligns with both your background and skill set, and your future goals. Here are the top 5 points that we hear from prospective candidates when it comes to reasons they might want to join a new team.

1. Exciting Upcoming Projects / Meaningful work. Most of us are motivated by work that aligns with our values and makes a positive impact. Roles that offer a sense of purpose and contribute to meaningful causes are particularly attractive. If your company isn’t specifically mission-drive or dedicated to changing the world, offering exciting upcoming projects that someone will be a part of including modernization efforts or greenfield projects are important to highlight.

2. Competitive Compensation. A fair salary and comprehensive benefits are fundamental. Job seekers want to be compensated well for their skills and contributions, including health insurance, retirement plans, and bonuses. IQ Clarity offers a salary guide for tech clients that can help you gauge the market and going pay scales!

3. Work-Life Balance. Flexibility is highly valued – almost more often than compensation! Many people seek roles that offer flexible hours, remote work options, and ample vacation time to manage their personal and professional lives effectively.

4. Company Culture and Values. Alignment with company culture and values is essential. Job seekers favor organizations that promote a positive work environment, respect diversity, and foster a supportive and inclusive culture. It never hurts to offer a dog friendly office as well 😉 

5. Job Security and Stability. Job security is a significant concern. Prospective employees often prefer roles in companies with a track record of stability and clear expectations regarding job longevity as well as average tenure of employees. Tenure is one of the easiest things for a prospective employee to research prior to applying or interviewing for a new role (thanks to resources like LinkedIn and GlassDoor)!

Addressing these 5 factors can help both employers attract top talent and job seekers find roles that fit their needs, and our Recruiting team makes sure to ask the right questions when taking job orders and matching candidates to future roles to make sure we find a career fit that will be mutually beneficial, effective, and in direct hire cases, long term!