Did you know about 18 percent of job candidates reject the initial offer from a potential employer? The fact of the matter is that although hiring managers may assume they have the upper hand, interviewees have just as much leverage once the job offer is on the table. Last year we conducted our own study regarding this topic, and you can view the results here. Other things that candidates look for in a company before saying “yes” to an offer are:
1. Responsiveness throughout the hiring process
Approximately 56 of employers said in a CareerBuilder survey that they didn’t respond to job candidates or acknowledge the receipt of applications. Thirty-three percent admitted they didn’t follow up with job seekers after the actual interview.
Candidates prefer companies that are responsive to them throughout the hiring process. This means replying to emails and phone calls as soon as it begins, especially in response to questions from the job seekers. Previous research shows that candidates who do not receive replies are less likely to commercially support the company after applying for a position.
2. Company transparency and honesty
A survey conducted by SoftwareAdvice found that 29 percent of job seekers prefer an honest, transparent company culture when gauging potential employers. This means that candidates would like to know that a company has been open and honest in its initial job posting about the available position.
Additionally, job seekers also seem to value the treatment of employees over company perks. This means that businesses that focus too much on installing ping pong tables need to step back and consider how they actually communicate with their workers. Allowing play time can only go so far for “laid back” companies.
3. Work-life balance
A Glassdoor survey conducted in 2014 revealed the top considerations of job seekers prior to accepting a job offer. The top three were as follows – compensation, career growth opportunities and work-life balance. As more Millennials enter the workforce, they are not only focused on their careers, but maintaining their livelihood. For this reason, work-life balance has become a large factor for job hunters.
As young employees age and consider starting a family, work-life balance also evolves into a top priority. Companies that provide benefits such as shorter workdays (particularly on Fridays), additional business holidays and extra paid-time-off are naturally going to be more attractive.
About 40 percent of job hunters want a flexible schedule, while 46 percent desire a good work culture, according to CareerBuilder. Approximately 55 percent want affordable benefits, while 65 percent just need job stability.
It’s easy to see that job offer acceptance factors vary across the board. However, approaching each of these preferences and how they could work at your company can boost your overall appeal to job seekers.
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