Research from Talent Works among software and government professionals has found 38 per cent of respondents reported being approached over five times for a new job in the last year. The survey also found that 5 per cent have been approached more than 10 times in the past year.
The company says that when it comes to comparing the amount of times government and software professionals have been approached for a new role over the past 12 months, there are some stark differences. Seventy-one per cent of government professionals have not been approached at all for a new job role, compared to those in software roles in the IT industry (45 per cent). Eight per cent of these software professionals had been approached between 10 and 20 times. The demand for technical skills has increased significantly in recent years, with the pandemic further exacerbating this need.
The survey also asked whether having to be in the office either full- or part-time would influence the way respondents view an organisation, with a fifth (20 per cent) of employees saying it would negatively impact whether they were to stay or join an organisation. 38 per cent of organisations also don’t have a work from home policy in place, with employees still in the dark about whether they will be working from the office, home, or both.
When asked about what they want most when working at an organisation, opportunities to progress their career (38 per cent) and a great company culture (33 per cent) came out on top. A great office was a much lower priority for respondents (16 per cent), showing that physical workspaces are not a focus for employees and prospective candidates and businesses looking to attract top talent should direct their focus elsewhere.
Respondents were also asked whether they are optimistic about their career progression in 2022. The survey found that over a fifth (21 per cent) are looking to pursue their career elsewhere in 2022, with 18–34-year-olds more likely to look elsewhere (25 per cent) compared to 35s+ (18 per cent).
Neil Purcell, CEO and Founder of Talent Works, commented: “Businesses should be concerned with the mixed responses on working policies, especially with job openings at an all time high and poaching numbers only likely to grow. Understanding your candidates and your employees will ensure that the right people fit within your organisation and employee turnover and churn is reduced.”
