Promotion and moving up the career ladder are the most important factors when searching for a job, according to a survey by recruitment agency Brook Street.

Pay and benefits, the people you work with and location, also scored highly. However, surprisingly few said the company profile was an important aspect when job seeking.

Erika Bannerman, Brook Street’s sales and marketing director, says: “We are now in a primarily applicant-driven market and competition for the most talented and qualified employees is high. Employees are asking more of their employers, as people are increasingly thinking about their own long-term career progression, meaning employers are having to work harder to become the employer of choice.

“Employers need to offer development opportunities to not only attract staff but also to retain and boost productivity, as workers want to be with companies who will invest in them,” Bannerman adds.