The Factors That Employees Look For in a Workplace

It is not only you who is shopping when you are halfway through a recruitment drive. Your candidates are also shopping for a workplace where they will thrive. Then, rather than leave this to fate, here are some of the top factors that employees are looking for when they come for an interview or trial day with you.

·      An Inspiring Office

Most potential employees’ first impression of your business will be your office or workplace. This will be where they will spend the majority of their time while they are with you. They are looking for a workspace that is bright, spacious, and inspiring. This is especially the case if the individual in question is neurodivergent- they might be looking for a workplace where they can focus and that will not trigger any of their sensory issues.

This means that you should put a lot of effort into the appearance and practicality of your office space. You should ensure that it is kept clean, that you have laced air-purifying plants around the space, and that everyone has their own space to work away from distractions. You should make sure that the temperature is perfect and that there is enough natural light.

You might also want to change your décor if you believe that this is too outdated, and add in gadgets that will draw attention and that candidates could be excited by. In short, you want to make your office a place that people will want to work in. Only then will you be able to tick every bullet point off on the list of how your office can attract top employees.

·      Great Colleagues

Your possible employees are also looking out for the behaviour of your other employees. No one wants to work in a workplace where they will be lonely, patronised, excluded, or bullied. They may be looking for colleagues who are knowledgeable, happy to help, and welcoming, as well as those who are able to both collaborate and allow for independent working.

To create an excellent and friendly team, you should advertise the mission and outlook of your company in advance, as well as your company culture and the soft skills you are looking for. You should also employ people who come across as engaged and friendly in the interview, and who you would want to work with yourself. You should put policies in place in case of harassment or bullying, and you should put training and team-building activities in place to ensure that everyone is on the same page and can develop a great sense of teamwork.

·      Good Pay

Potential employees will also be looking for excellent pay. This might be a given, and yet many employers only pay their staff the bare minimum, taking into account how much it costs to hire an employee. The amount that you pay your staff should be related to the skills that are required to perform the job in question, the number of responsibilities that they will have, and the dedication and commitment that you expect from them.

The more pay you offer, the more likely you will be able to attract skilled and loyal staff who want to work for you for many years in the future. You might also decide to discuss the pay that they would like and are expecting at the interview stage to save any dissatisfaction and to make this a two-way conversation.

·      Progression Opportunities

Possible employees will also be looking for progression opportunities, or else they might feel as if there is no future for them in your brand. This means that you should discuss progression opportunities, along with training and qualifications, with them as early as the interview stage. You should aim to find out their individual goals and interests, as well as what makes them tick. This will entice the most skilled individuals to your company.

·      Fulfilling Work

No one wants to sit in an office for 8 hours a day and come away feeling as if they have not done anything or made a difference to the world around them. You want to provide work that utilizes the skills of your employees and engages their minds, allowing them to perform the tasks that they do best.

Otherwise, you might find that your team is unmotivated and that you are unable to attract staff of the calibre that you require. One way to avoid giving your team dull and mind-numbing tasks is to automate an assortment of repetitive and administrative processes that do not need to be performed with a human eye.