A whitepaper* reveals that flexible working is now a top priority for job candidates, identified by 70% of HR professionals surveyed when asked about their experience of the recruitment process. Further to this, 67% of HR professionals surveyed said that a working from home policy was a key priority for candidates.

Both flexible working and working from home policies featured above salary, which was identified by 55% of HR professionals as a top priority for candidates, making it the third most common. Such factors demonstrate that companies are no longer able to rely on just salary to seal the deal on a new appointment but must consider a role holistically to win over potential new joiners.

When asked about the most important factor for new candidates and existing employees, 38% of HR professionals cited the rewards package. Perhaps keen to ensure that their reward offering is attractive to new and existing employees, half (51%) of UK organisations have made changes to their rewards and benefits package since the pandemic. Alongside these benefits changes, some businesses have already begun to adjust to these post-lockdown candidate desires, with almost one in three (29.9%) companies adjusting their start and finish times to meet employee needs.

With 85% of HR professionals believing that the war for talent has become more competitive over the past 12 months, it’s vital that businesses seek to develop the right offering to attract the top talent. To create such a strong, competitive offering, businesses should utilise the right analytics, enabling them to benchmark against industry averages, measure against competitors, and map out where there is room to negotiate.

Scott Walker, Managing Director at Cendex notes: “As businesses look to attract and retain the right candidates, having an understanding of changing priorities expectations is crucial to staying competitive in the market. With salary ranking third on candidates’ wish list, money is important, but it’s no longer the lynch pin in securing a candidate’s interest in a role. The pandemic has demonstrated not only the benefits of remote working, but also the importance of a healthy work/life balance.

“Organisations therefore need to be mindful of their whole benefits package and flexible working policies when attracting and retaining talent, especially as labour shortages continue across industries.”

*Whitepaper from Cendex, part of XpertHR,