A leading employment search website which brings together hundreds of online jobseekers with Online Jobs vacancies recently completed a survey of its searchers to discover what gives them the most satisfaction in their present job. The website in question gives details of opportunities which are placed by both private companies and recruitment agencies. It also permits those who are out of work or need to change jobs to upload their CVs so that employers can search for appropriate candidates for their vacancies. It does seem slightly ironic to undertake a survey on job satisfaction from a group of people where a large percentage of them are probably trying to change their job, but, nevertheless, the survey provided some interesting results. The survey was open to all kinds of staff, regardless of whether they Work From Home or in an office or factory.

The leading reason for job satisfaction was Salary with 21% which implies that a huge 79 per cent of respondents are not pleased with their present level of remuneration. It would be logical to presume that the 21% are from the higher income bracket unless there are employees somewhere who are doing very little work for a below-average salary and are apparently delighted to be doing so. Salary was only marginally the leading answer as Environment was close behind with 20 per cent. Environment included the location of the person’s workplace, its surroundings, decor, noise levels and anything else that would have an impact on their daily working life. Obviously, working in an antiquated office, in a town centre with expensive parking facilities, adjacent to a noisy motorway would compare much less favourably to being employed by a new Internet Business on one of the newly-created technology parks in a greenfield location. If any respondents were doing their Work From Home then their environment should not be a concern as they will have created it themselves!

While the first two replies could be seen as personal issues, the next two answers are more concerned with job content. 18 per cent said that the Challenge was the most satisfying element of their job, followed by 15 per cent who said Progression. So, the facility to use their talents to overcome major difficulties in their work gives eighteen per cent of employees the most satisfaction. It is safe to assume that these are not factory process workers or filing clerks! The chance to progress is important in almost all jobs and the absence of promotion prospects can be extremely frustrating so the 15 per cent who perceive Progression as the most satisfying aspect of their work are indeed fortunate to have found positions which match their drive and ambition perfectly.

The next most popular answer, at twelve per cent was Colleagues, which, like the first two answers, is more of a personal issue than a work-related one. Many people enjoy the ‘buzz’ of a hectic office or factory and a good atmosphere at work improves staff morale which, in turn, increases efficiency. Recent trends towards allowing employees to Work From Home do not please everyone as many employees are not comfortable with working in isolation. Many of the new types of Internet Business adopt the latest communication technology to enable most of their employees to Work From Home and they need to be very particular when recruiting employees to ensure that the candidates they employ are happy to do Online Jobs where interaction with colleagues is minimal. The final two answers were Training at eight per cent and Fun at 6%. It is encouraging to know that 6% of employees are having so much fun at work and regard it as the most satisfying facet of their job.