The best thing about our job is our colleagues, that’s according to a survey of Irish Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing professionals conducted by Euro Executive Recruitment.

It seems that workplace camaraderie, a pleasant atmosphere and a good crew of like-minded professionals is the number one thing about our job. But higher salaries, career development opportunities, better management and flexible working hours are the most influential factors when deciding to change jobs.

In a survey of 1,000 Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing professionals, which looked at elements of everyday working life, money and salary were highly influential, but location of work and flexible working hours are growing in importance.

When asked what the best thing about their job was:

• 18% of respondents said that it was their colleagues.
• 11% cited location of their workplace.
• Salary package and fulfilling work accounted for both 9% respectively.
• 7% said that flexible working hours was the best thing.

But when it comes to the most influential factors that persuade us to change jobs:

1. Money talks as a higher salary was the most influential factor in deciding to change jobs.
2. Better career development opportunities was second.
3. Better management and team structure was third.
4. Flexible working arrangements came in a close fourth.

When asked to change one thing about their current role:

• Money again the top answer with 24% who wanted a better salary package.
• 18% said a better location.
• 11% wanted more flexibility in their working hours.

When looking at commuting times, responses to the survey showed the wide disparity in how long we spend going to and from the workplace each day:

• 40% of respondents commuted for between 30 minutes to one 1 hour every day.
• Followed by 35% who commuted for less than 30 minutes.
• 13% commuted for between 1 – 1.5hrs each day.
• 5% of respondents commuted for 1.5hrs – 2 hour.
• 5% commuted for over 2 hours each day.

Denis Casey, COO of Euro Executive Recruitment said, “In the last 6 – 9 months we have definitely seen a large increase in the number of employers offering flexible working arrangements to attract the best talent. The war for talent is real and these companies now have to think outside the box to attract great candidates. In particular, companies which offer candidates a better work-life-balance such as working from home one day a week in addition to benefits such as illness benefit and a good pension are leading the way. For candidates who might have multiple job offers, these benefits are often the deal breaker and can sway someone into accepting or indeed, declining a role.”

Euro Executive Recruitment is a leading recruitment consultancy specialising in Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, HR, Marketing and Finance and Accountancy. Established in 2015, and part of AA Euro Group, Euro Executive Recruitment operates from Waterford, Cork, Dublin, the UK, France, The Netherlands, Denmark, Poland and Romania.