There is a scene that repeats itself too often in the offices of tech startups: a CEO offers a 10% raise to their best salesperson to keep them from leaving, and the salesperson politely declines and goes to the competition. Why? Because the paycheck at the end of the month is no longer the only compass guiding talent. The big question that obsesses HR departments and executives is: What are workers looking for today? More than salary: stability and growth.
If you are leading a team or looking for your next professional opportunity, you must understand that the rules of the game have changed. After the pandemic and the rise of remote work, "emotional salary" and future projection weigh as much or more than the zeros in the bank account. At Hanbai, we see daily how brilliant candidates turn down million-dollar offers for projects that offer a clear purpose and a solid career plan.
The equation of job happiness: money doesn't buy commitment
We live in the era of the "Silent Resignation" and accelerated turnover. According to recent industry studies, 65% of employees say they would prefer a better work/life balance and a clear training plan over an isolated salary increase.
To understand the key phrase, what are workers looking for today? We must first break down the concepts, because in the SaaS and digital ecosystem, they don't mean what they did ten years ago.
1. Stability: the new transparency
In the past, stability meant a permanent contract in a company with 50 years of history. Today, in the world of startups, stability is synonymous with transparency and mental health.
- Financial clarity: Workers want to know that the company has runway (cash) and a viable business model, not a house of cards.
- Coherent leadership: They look for bosses who communicate bad news with the same honesty as good news.
- Well-being: An environment where burnout and 14-hour days are not glorified.
2. Growth: the antidote to stagnation
"Class A" talent fears stagnation. When we ask ourselves what are workers looking for today? More than salary: stability and growth, the part about growth refers to the evolution of skills.
- Constant upskilling: Access to high-level training (courses, mentorships, events).
- Career map: Knowing exactly what milestones they need to achieve to move from SDR to Account Executive or Team Leader.
How to respond to what are workers looking for today? More than salary: stability and growth from the company
If you are a business leader, you cannot simply put a ping-pong table in the office and call it "culture." To attract and retain the top 1% of sales talent, you need an Employer Branding strategy based on facts.
Here is a roadmap to align your offer with the current talent demand:
- Design Individual Development Plans (IDP): Don't wait for the annual review. Have quarterly conversations about where the employee wants to go.
- Radical flexibility: Remote work or hybrid models are no longer a perk, they are a standard. True flexibility is measured by objectives, not chair hours.
- Internal mentorship: Create programs where seniors train juniors. This satisfies the growth need of both (some learn, others lead).
"The modern candidate is not looking for a boss, they are looking for a mentor. If in the job interview you are not able to explain how they will be a better professional in a year thanks to you, you've lost them before you even start." — Elisa Aguilera, Head of Talent Acquisition at Hanbai.
Why Hanbai Talent connects visions, not just resumes
In the Talent vertical at Hanbai, we understand that a CV is a snapshot of the past, but hiring is a bet on the future. When we help a company hire or a candidate find their place, we don't just make a simple "match" of technical skills.
We ensure that the answer to what are workers looking for today? More than salary: stability and growth, is aligned on both sides.
- We help companies structure offers that go beyond the base salary, making their culture attractive.
- We help candidates identify projects where their growth ambition will be nurtured, not frustrated.
We are the bridge between talent that wants to soar and companies that build runways for takeoff.
Conclusion: the future belongs to those who care for talent
The job market has spoken loud and clear. Ignoring the premise of what are workers looking for today? More than salary: stability and growth is the fast track to business irrelevance.
Whether you are looking to hire your next sales leader or looking for a place to develop your potential, remember: the best work relationships are those where both parties grow together. Don't settle for less.
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