As an employer it can sometimes be difficult to appeal to as broader range of potential employees as possible; understanding just what people want in a job can be difficult and, at times, down right bewildering.

And, just to add an extra layer of complexity, there is growing evidence of significant differences in just what two of your biggest sub-sectors of employees want, what man and women want in a job can be as different as what separate genders desire in employment.

Which is where global employment specialist Randstad steps in with a body of research which puts the employment gender divide under their clinical microscope.

According to the Randstad Award, a global employment research survey, the gender divide can be broken down as follows.

The top factors women want from their employer in 2013 are:

  1. Competitive salary & employee benefits
  2. Good work-life balance
  3. Long term job security
  4. Convenient location
  5. Flexible working

The top factors men want from their employers in 2013:

  1. Competitive salary & employee benefits
  2. Long term job security
  3. Good work-life balance
  4. Convenient location
  5. Interesting job content

So while both men and women clearly share some similarities in what they look for in a job, there are some crucial differences. Flexible working conditions for women is a clear deal breaker, so when you’re on the hunt for top talent, be sure to offer an option for flexible work hours or potential to shift to part-time work.

Boring work would see men walk from their jobs, according to the findings, so be sure to provide a challenging and dynamic work load to your male working cohort.

 The findings are particularly timely, with Randstad also examining the top five reasons why Aussie workers are likely to walk from their current employment.