No one gets much joy from putting together resumes and cover letters for
According to job search platform
"Employers should assume nine in 10 of their employees are looking to leave," she says. "Employers need to ask themselves why their [employees] want to leave. As for employees, it's a good idea to keep their eyes and ears open for new opportunities."
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Monster found that flexible work hours, remote work options and mental health and wellness benefits ranked as the most important perks to workers today, underlining the continued fight for work-life balance five years out from the start of the pandemic. And yet, job seekers aren't entirely opposed to trading their current role for an in-office one. Fifty-three percent of workers said they would apply to a job regardless of whether it's in-office or remote, according to Monster. However, 33% refuse to apply for positions requiring five days in the office.
Workers aren't just concerned about their flexibility — 48% of employees expect the same salary from the previous year, while 46% expect higher pay. Notably, of those looking for raises, 85% cite cost of living increases as why they expect more from their employer this year, highlighting the pressure the current economy places on employers and employees alike.
However, job seekers aren't willing to jump to the first job that gets back to them. According to Monster, workers report these red flags for why they'd pull out of job applications: 51% will take their names out of running due to poor interviewer behavior, 50% because of poor communication from the company, 42% because the interview and assessment process has too many hoops and 39% because they're expected to write a long presentation.
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"Job seekers are stepping into their power and realizing that they are evaluating the employer as much as the employer is evaluating them," says Salemi. "It's important for employers to know that most job seekers are not in a mode of desperation."
Salemi encourages employers to focus their efforts on assessing what their current workforce needs in order to stick around. If a company's benefits and work culture are retaining top talent, then it likely won't have trouble attracting top talent.
"It's really for the employer to take a very close, proactive look at their current workforce and truly make their workplace one of the top places to work in their industry," says Salemi. "The word will get out, and candidates will want to apply."
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As it stands, 67% of workers feel they work in a toxic environment, according to Monster. Salemi advises employers to acknowledge the shortcomings of their own cultures before it's too late.
"Companies may lose a lot of excellent workers because of toxicity," she says. "It takes time and energy and effort as well as money and leadership buy-in to fully support a healthy working environment."
As for job seekers, Salemi advises them to focus on boosting their skills across the board, noting that employers feel they're in a skill shortage. In fact, 47% of employers report their workforce lacks technical skills, including AI familiarity, 52% report a lack of interpersonal skills and 51% report a lack of creative and strategic thinking skills, according to Monster.
"Find a way to gain those skills, even internally, through your current employer," says Salemi. "It's a win-win for you and your current employer."
