Traditional Employer Characteristics Remain Most Popular Among Job Seekers

Employers that offer interesting work, regular recognition and rewards, and opportunities for quick advancement are the most popular targets for job seekers, according to the findings of a global recruitment survey released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN).

The purpose of the survey, which queried more than 4,100 job seekers in 21 countries in North and South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, was to identify the most-valued career goals of both entry-level and experienced job seekers.

The findings indicate that challenging and interesting work is the most important characteristic that job seekers look for in prospective employers, selected by 60 percent of all respondents. The potential for recognition and reward for their accomplishments was a close second selected by 58 percent of respondents.

Rounding out the top five characteristics of greatest interest to job seekers were: opportunities for fast career growth (44 percent); indications that the employer is well established and is likely to have long-term prosperity (42 percent); and indications that a company has a particular focus on its people (42 percent).

Respondents from the UK, backed this up with two thirds of respondents (67 percent) believing that challenging and interesting work is their number one priority when seeking a potential employer.

ìInterestingly, we found that what is considered important to potential recruits was remarkably consistent across geographies,î said John Campagnino, Accentureís global director of recruitment. ìThe research also validated what many of us intuitively know: namely, that tangible benefits such as rewards and recognition are most important from an external recruitís perspective.î