Employer Polls and Insights

What is the top characteristic you look for in a job applicant?

Effective Communicator
25%
Positive Attitude
37%
Team Player
21%
Problem Solver
18%

hiring

We asked employers what they consider to be the most attractive traits in a candidate, when making hiring decisions. Having the necessary qualifications and skills to complete the job duties is obviously vital, but what sets apart
the best from the rest?

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Spark Group Insights

As shown above, there are varying opinions on this topic and depending what industry or department you’re applying in, the answer could easily change. Ideally, a candidate would possess each of the characteristics listed, but the one that stands above the rest is having a positive attitude. Employers place substantial value in an employee’s ability to start the day with a smile, bounce back after encountering obstacles, and encourage the people around them.

What are you doing to keep your best people?

Benefits/Compensation
66%
Mentorship programs
12%
Diversity initiatives
3%
Employee engagement events
19%

retention

This poll sought to explore how employers have been adjusting their employee retention strategies during and since the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Spark Group Insights

As seen in these results and comparable polls geared towards job-seekers, the majority of participating employers consider salary and benefits their most effective tool for keeping their best people. 

Do your workplace's polices support your mental health and emotional well-being?

Yes
43%
No
57%

company-culture

With Mental Health Awareness a national concern, we decided to find out whether today’s workforce feels adequately supported, mentally.

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Spark Group Insights

Employers are finding that understanding mental health and the policies put in place to support it are becoming increasingly important. If you’d like to learn more about the importance of mental health support and the effects of work-related stress, the CDC has a wide range of available information and tools: https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html

When you interview candidates, which qualities are the most important to you or your team?

Skill Set
31%
Culture Fit
24%
Personality
23%
Relevant Experience
22%

hiring

In a previous poll, hiring managers said that above anything else, a positive attitude was the most important personality trait in a candidate. But just how important is personality, and could that be even more desirable than being the most qualified for the job?

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Spark Group Insights

Possessing the necessary skills and subject knowledge still holds the most weight in an employer’s evaluation of potential team members. That is just one of the factors that most companies will consider for hiring decisions, though a clever interviewee should still remember to bring their winning smile and positive attitude along to their next interview. That could easily be the difference between otherwise equal candidates.

What role at your company typically handles the bulk of the hiring at your company?

HR Lead
17%
Hiring manager(s)
45%
Recruiter(s)
32%
Employer(s)
6%

hiring

Different types of companies and organizations across various industries may have vastly different products, services, and business models - but they all need people. This poll sought the most common job titles for those who make the majority of hiring decisions at their own workplace.

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Spark Group Insights

You can't take the "Human" out of Human Resources, so it should be no surprise that recruiters, HR reps, and hiring managers manage most of the sourcing, interviewing, and hiring process. It should be noted that these positions may overlap on many non-hiring HR topics and responsibilities, such as benefits management, legal compliance, and employee relations.