Jobseekers say they may reject a job
if they don’t like the look of the company’s CEO.
According to new research conducted for
Totaljobs Live, 78 per cent of jobseekers said the reputation of the CEO is an
important factor when deciding whether to apply for a job.
Seventy-five per cent of people
claim they would be put-off applying for a position if the CEO had a
poor reputation and 92 per cent said
a company’s values are important when applying for a job.
Asked to vote for their favourite
CEO, jobseekers listed Richard Branson and easyJet’s Stelios Haji-Ioannou as
top.
Keith Robinson, operations director
of totaljobs.com said: "The jobseekers of today are a different breed to
those of the 1980s. Back then, the most important draw when looking for a job
was the package – including money, benefits and extra perks. Although these
factors still have a role to play, in 2002, a company’s brand, what it stands
for and whether it is socially responsible have a bigger influence on those
looking for work.
"Companies need to carefully
consider how they portray themselves to potential employees and recognise the
power of their CEOs reputation. Our research shows that a dynamic CEO can help
a company attract the right candidates for a position, while a failing one can
have the opposite
effect."
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