While there is now a light at the end of the tunnel, the impact of the pandemic will be ongoing. It fundamentally altered candidate expectations and job seeker priorities in many cases, causing them to favor a different kind of employer in 2021.
By understanding their top motivations, you can adjust your recruitment approach and employee experience accordingly. In turn, you’ll have an easier time with both recruitment and retention, allowing you to access and keep exceptional talent.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, here is a look at the top job seeker motivations in 2021.
Competitive Salaries
During 2020, there was a lot of financial uncertainty. Both professionals and companies were impacted, creating a unique climate that hasn’t existed for several years, if not longer. Job losses were common, and employers had to forgo promotions and raises to maintain operations.
Today, that situation is calming. As a result, professionals have new expectations when it comes to salaries. While they may have been open to bypassing a salary increase during the height of the pandemic, that mentality isn’t as present today. As a result, companies that want to hire genuine top performers need to bring enough to the table, ensuring they meet or exceed what’s available through competitors.
Job Security
With the widespread unemployment caused by the pandemic, many professionals reevaluated their careers. Industries that were once viewed as incredibly stable suddenly weren’t, while some other unexpected fields thrived.
Professionals are now more aware of the importance of job security than ever before. In some cases, this leads them to pivot into new fields or industries to find additional stability. At times, it means focusing on companies that weathered the storm best, or that can offer something to offset a perceived risk, like career coaching and job placement support if layoffs occur.
However, it can also cause many candidates to put renewed emphasis on transparency. If they remain in a riskier industry, knowing that their employer will be open and honest as the situation unfolds provides them with value.
Ultimately, companies need to consider how they can offer a form of job security. Additionally, they need to seize opportunities to highlight what they bring to the table in this area, making them a more enticing option for job seekers.
Work-Life Balance
During the pandemic, many professionals began working from home for the first time, and a decent portion have become enamored with the paradigm. It became a critical tool for work-life balance, allowing them to navigate various personal challenges while remaining productive.
Many professionals are going to favor employers who have something similar to offer. Whether it’s the ability to telecommute at least part of the time, flexible schedules, or anything else that provides a degree of agility, companies that bring it to the table will get more attention.
In the end, companies need to understand the top job seeker motivations of today, enabling them to make adjustments to attract the best candidates. If you’d like to learn more about how to recruit successfully in 2021, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.
