Nice job scores higher than good salary

Young people with one or more part-time jobs find flexibility and a competitive salary important, but a great company to work for and a nice atmosphere on the work floor count at least as much when choosing a part-time job. This is the conclusion of temporary employment platform NOWJOBS based on a survey of more than 600 additional earners.

It is lucrative for employers to invest in an attractive workplace for side earners in addition to permanent employees. Young people with one or more side jobs are primarily looking for work that matches their schedule. They prefer a side job at times that fit their schedule. A competitive compensation for this flexible work is also very important to them.

Young people more sensitive to image of work environment

Young people are also sensitive to the image of the company they work for and to the 'fun at work' factor. "From the results we can conclude that additional earners are very loyal, more loyal than most employers might think," says Reinier Vastenburg, Country Manager of NOWJOBS Netherlands. "While they like to work on days and times that suit them best, at the same time they prefer to return to the one employer where it's just fun."

Cool job scores higher than good salary

The analysis of the survey results, by the way, shows that for female additional earners in particular, pleasure in work counts heavily. Almost half of the women surveyed say they consider this aspect very important (compared with a quarter for men). Men, on the other hand, consider salary more important than women and choose their side jobs accordingly more often than women. Across the board, both men and women have a clearer preference (70%) for a cool job than for a good salary. The latter explains, according to Vastenburg, that a job in the hospitality industry is still by far the most popular (especially at festivals), although a job as a delivery driver is also rising sharply in popularity.

Give them space and invest in attractive workplace

Above all, the research seems to indicate that it pays for employers to also invest in an attractive workplace for young adults. Vastenburg: "Our advice is twofold. One: don't try to frame additional earners in fixed days and fixed hours, because then you'll quickly lose them. And also offer them the opportunity to occasionally work a few days in a job that they really enjoy, such as at a festival. By being flexible yourself, you retain your side earners. Two: make sure they also enjoy working for you. That way, as an employer, you can gather around you a fairly loyal group of well-trained additional earners. You build up a pool of favorites with which you can easily absorb fluctuations in staffing levels."