Not Suprisingly, It's Not All About the Money

When it comes to working, it's not always all about the money. The Wall Street Journal Online explored this matter in a recent article and found that compensation can come in many forms, and salary is but a part of that. The article looked at "early career" workers – those up to age 35 – and workers in their 40s, who have acquired skill sets and are deciding where they want to settle for the long run. Things like challenging and interesting work topped the list of employer characteristics that job candidates sought when considering a new position. Rewards and compensation were a close second, and opportunity for advancement third, followed closely by a company's long-term prospects. Other popular concepts like corporate citizenship and workplace diversity placed at the bottom of the list of 15 qualities.

Once you get employees in the door by meeting basic needs such as compensation and challenging work, employees move on to looking for other things, like working for a responsible company or one that encourages teamwork, says John Campagnino, Accenture's global head of recruiting. Smart employers, he says, will offer recruits a package with as many of these characteristics as possible.

While job security and retirement were once a draw, most of today's workers are aware of the shifting sands that make job permanance little more than illusion. Reoganization can happen on a moment's notice; mergers and acquisitions can endanger retirement accounts. Noted one career expert, "Workers used to go into a company knowing ... that if they did a good job they would be employed for life. Now that's no guarantee. They want to know 'What's in it for me?'"

Employees who have undergone major life transitions, such as marriage, children or having to care for an aging parent, are among the most eager to explore the matter of job satisfaction from a holistic perspective. And many are turning to their alma mater's career services offices for advice. Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., has two staffers dedicated solely to helping alumni. And Donna Goldfeder, director of Lehigh's career services, has simple advice to employers: "Supervisors should show their appreciation, give compliments. It's really still about the human touch. Are your workers happy?"

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