Research from pre-hire assessment start-up ThriveMap has shown that 48% of employees have left a role because it wasn’t what they expected it to be.
Asked what the difference was between reality and expectation, 59% cited job responsibilities, 42% pointed to the working environment and 35% mentioned working hours or shift patterns.
Among generation Z employees – those aged 18 to 24 – three quarters (73%) said they had left a role because the responsibilities weren’t what they expected them to be following the interview process.
ThriveMap’s research, “Dreams vs Reality – How well does recruitment today reflect job requirements and company culture?” also found that 31% of people left a job because company culture wasn’t what they expected. Of them, 56% said this was because of the approach of senior leader, 53% said it was the behaviour of colleagues, while 52% said it was “everyday management”.
Chris Platts, CEO of ThriveMap, said “The current recruitment process is failing many employees, leading them to accept roles that weren’t what they expected. This situation is also harmful for employers, costing them valuable time and resources through increased employee churn.
“Businesses need to take a fresh look at their recruitment processes to ensure they test effectively for the skills that are actually required for the role, not ones they assume are important. They also need to present both the job and the organisation honestly. Employees will appreciate this open approach, giving them the confidence to know what to expect when they start a new job.”
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
The research suggests significant issues with the recruitment process: employers seem to be failing to disclose the whole truth of what the job entails, appearing to mis-sell what a potential employee will be required to do.
ThriveMap’s survey was carried by One Poll in January 2019 among 1,000 full-time employees who have had at least two full-time jobs.
