Stats around hiring to in office roles (5 days per week)

Over the last two weeks I have been hiring for two roles that have been focused on the same target applicant, and in many ways are quite similar.

Vacancy 1

Is a HR Manager role, for a growing business with about 160 staff. The salary is up to £80,000, it is based in Central London. It might manage a team in the future if the businesses grows as hoped. It has a strong bonus and very generous pension contribution. It offers private health care.

Vacancy 2

Is a HR Manager role, Based in Central London, 100 staff. The salary is up £70,000. This role is unlikely to manage a team. It has a small bonus and a good pension scheme. It offers private health care.

Both businesses have amazing services, have lovely offices, and seem secure and well managed.

Which one would do you think would be more popular?

Vacancy 1 has received a total of 18 applications, 3 of which confirmed interest after full briefing, the others have politely declined.

Vacancy 2 has received 312 applications, we are in the middle of longlisting, no one has withdraw interest after initial briefings or after calling for more detail.

Why is this – well one is an in the office for 5 days per week contracted role (vacancy 1), the other (vacancy 2) is hybrid, with a preference for 2-3 days in the office, absolutely in line with what people ideally want.

Now the business with Vacancy 1 is not a draconian culture and it does trust its people. The nature of their work means that the firm has to deliver everything from its site, so it is hard for them to offer staff hybrid working. This may change and the new HR leader will help them work through this working practise challenge.

This has not changed the markets response however.

I hope this helps to highlight how challenging it can be to hire today of you have a 5 day per week requirement. It can be done, of course it can, some people prefer to be in the office. But be aware that most people prefer a hybrid opportunity, and they will make judgements about your culture before even talking to you if it isn’t on offer. They will also have options – if they do enter your process, your role will likely not be at the top of the list against the roles that they are looking at elsewhere.

As one candidate told me – I get it, the business probably does need someone in initially and they sound great. Unfortunately, I have plenty of options not to be in 5 days per week and I need to stay true to that working pattern preference so it is a no from me!

Photo by LYCS Architecture on Unsplash