Sunday, February 15 2026

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NEWS

NEWS

What Do Candidates (Really) Look for in an Employer?

With so many opportunities available, candidates are not the only ones under the spotlight. 💡

Ideal job candidates will be looking at what a job offers them as much as an employer looks at what the candidate brings to the job. 🙋🙋

Quite rightly, we are looking at a two-way street here.

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Nowadays, you need to cater for a five-generation workplace culture in your job advert.

But there is a way. 👍

In this blog, we show you how to find good candidates by sharing their six key priorities.

It’s just up to you to put them into practice.

 

Here are 6 Priorities Job Seekers Look for in a Company

  1. Simplicity 🔤

Looking for a job can be hard work in today’s fiercely competitive job market.

That’s why a simple application and recruitment process goes a long way.

No one wants to spend their free time racking their brains attempting to complete complicated application forms.

You will set the wrong impression by making things too complex from the start.

Simplifying and streamlining the process will ease the job candidate’s mind and set a much better standard.

 

  1. Strike a Work-Life Balance 

Not everyone is a career-driven workaholic.

Having a good balance between work and free time can be key for the right candidate.

People appreciate their work-life balance and reward employers for respecting it.

In a 2000-person survey, work-life balance was the second-highest career priority after recognition.

Studies reveal that a negative life balance can lead to poor mental health issues.

Ultimately, this will also impact work productivity.

Now, we are seeing flexible working hours to accommodate people’s unique situations.

Most commonly, parents and students can fit their work around their personal lives.

Hybrid and remote work schemes have even been introduced, revealing positive results on productivity and employee satisfaction.

 

  1. A Good Salary and Benefits Package 💰

Again, it’s important to feel valued for what you do.

Even if you love your work when that valuation isn’t matched with the right salary, a loyal, upstanding, and hard-working individual might just walk away.

For some, money is an awkward subject to speak about, so you should make it clear from the start what the salary and benefits are for the role advertised.

While money isn’t everything, it is for some people.

Money can be symbolic in how individuals rank themselves internally within a career and externally in society.

Along with a salary, a decent benefits package can keep employees happy and entice interested candidates for a position.

In fact, 79% of employees would prefer additional benefits to a pay rise.

 

  1. Purpose 

People with a purpose tend to thrive and flourish over those who lack direction.

The same can be said for a company and the employees who represent it.

In a large survey of 13,500 professionals,  81% agreed that finding a company with a positive purpose was important during the job-seeking process.

It’s becoming more significant for people to be considering their roles and responsibilities in society.

This applies to who and how they wish to spend their time working.

Representing a company that is not on board with its core values may lead to dissatisfaction and abandonment.

 

  1. Diversity 🌈

For many job seekers, working somewhere with an inclusive, supportive, and diverse understanding is imperative.

Ultimately, they wish to work somewhere where they are valued and respected.

Monster reports that 86% of candidates strongly value diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace, while 62% of candidates might turn down a job offer if the company culture doesn’t support a diverse workforce.

 

  1. Development 🚪🚶‍♂️

Lastly, candidates want to feel like there is room to grow in a company.

No one wants to get stuck in a rut with work, while the motivation for promotion can be a big productivity maker.

Offering development opportunities will increase the capability of your candidate.

Having room to grow inside a company will also apply a potent determination for current employers to exceed expectations.

 

Final Thoughts on How to Find Good Candidates

All in all, it’s crucial to understand what the candidate is looking for.

The ball is in both courts. 🎾

Understand this, and you will immediately gain their respect.

You need to sell the company as much as a candidate should sell themselves.

Stay ahead of the pack and attract a diverse range of job candidates across the entire five-generation spectrum.

Remember to:

  • Be honest and keep it simple ✔️
  • Value their role as you value the company ✔️
  • Be inclusive and understanding of people’s unique situations and circumstances ✔️
  • Always offer opportunities and give them purpose ✔️

With this advice, understanding what your job candidate is looking for will help you find the right person.

For any help writing an appealing job advert, check out AdBuilder.

Our job advert building platform can help you automate the recruitment process – saving your company time and money.

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AdBuilder is a modern solution to job advert writing. Generate bespoke, optimised job adverts that rank high on job boards & attract quality candidates.

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