What do IT professionals really want?
To find out which factors are most important when it comes to searching for a new job, we surveyed over 1,000 IT professionals in the UK.
Which factors are the most important? A bigger salary? More holidays? Or a more inclusive culture?
Salary
In many industries salary is the biggest influencer.
In the tech sector people are looking for more than just an income.
25% of tech experts did say salary would be the defining factor in a job search but an overwhelming majority valued other aspects.
75%
salary is not
the main reason they would accept a job offer




Benefits
Hiring managers often think benefits and extras can make a job offer look more attractive.
However, only 5% of participants value bonuses, traditional benefits and holidays the most.

1%
Bonuses

3%
Traditional Benefits

1%
Holidays
Women do not value bonuses or traditional benefits, and holidays only scraped 1% of their vote.
To hire the best talent in the tech sector you must go beyond traditional benefits.
Deciding Factors
With 75% of respondents highlighting other areas than salary as their most important factor, and so few respondents highlighting traditional benefits as a factor, just what do IT professionals want?

14%
Flexible work/hours

22%
Types of projects/challenges

13%
Location/commute
Offering IT professionals interesting projects and varied challenges is the most important factor. Flexibility is also high on their agenda – this is supported by the importance of location/commute.
Gender
Every individual has priorities when looking for a job; it could be more exciting projects, a better commute or a more inclusive culture.
Our survey found that while over a quarter of men want a better salary, it is the type of projects/challenges that are the most important to women.
Reasons to take a job
Male
Salary | 26% |
Types of projects | 21% |
Flexible work/hours | 14% |
Location/commute | 14% |
Female
Types of projects | 29% |
Flexible work/hours | 25% |
Salary | 17% |
Culture | 8% |
Seniority
When split by level of seniority, it is those at the early and latter stages of a career that value other aspects of a job more highly than salary.
Entry level
Mid Level
Senior level
Manager/
Director level
Locations
The common factors across regions are salary, flexible working, types of projects and location/commute time.
Salary is not the most important factor in some regions of the UK, although in the regions it is, it is by a considerable margin.
Scotland
- Type of projects/challenges
- Salary
- Flexible working
North East
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Location/commute time
North West
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Flexible working
Yorkshire
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Location/commute time
East Midlands
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Flexible working
East of England
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Flexible working
London
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Flexible working
South East
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
- Flexible working
South West
- Flexible working
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
West Midlands
- Flexible working
- Salary
- Type of projects/challenges
Wales
- Flexible working
- Location/commute time
- Salary
Age
When looking at the importance of the tech stack and languages used by companies, age group is a stand-out point of interest.
Over one third of participants aged 18-24 rate tech stack/languages/frameworks as the most important factor when accepting a job offer.
What is the MAIN reason you would take a new role?
Tech stack/languages/frameworks used
Opportunities
Over 80% of respondents had applied for a job in the last six months and 73% had applied for a job in the last month.
Even at manager/director level, there is no such thing as settling into a role.
Have you applied for a new job in the last
6 months?
84%
YES
16% no




Have you applied for a new job in the
last month?
73%
YES
27% no




Manager/Director who have applied for a job in the
last month
80%
YES
20% no




How we can help
Flexibility, location, a variety of work and challenging projects are must-haves for IT professionals. Our survey shows that the IT sector is highly active, even at manager/director level.
If you need help finding the right IT professionals for your business, get in touch:
To view all of the insights from our survey, download the full report:
Submit Enquiry
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