Juggling one’s personal and professional life and achieving a perfect balance between the two is no easy task for professionals across the world, with the recipe for success yet to be found.

Trying to shed a light on UK marketing and creative employees’ welfare, specialist recruiters for creative, digital and marketing talent, Aquent and Vitamin T, have unveiled the results of its latest survey, looking into job satisfaction and work-life balance among marketing and creatives.

The results have revealed the struggle for the sector’s professionals, with 52% of employees on the lookout for a better job. Only 25% of employees express satisfaction with and the desire to stay at their current role. Additionally, a third of employees are looking for jobs in different industries.

The survey has also shown that people no longer look for forever jobs, but for motivating and though-provoking roles that could also offer them a decent work-life balance. According to the research, 50% of marketers and creatives remain in the same job for between two and five years, while 46% stay for two or less.

Mike Berry, UK country manager at Aquent/Vitamin T says, “In a competitive industry where six out of ten marketing bosses are finding it hard to recruit quality talent, companies need to find an effective way of not only developing but retaining good people. With a quarter of marketers and creatives unhappy enough at work to be actively looking for a change, employers need to up their game.”

Among the top reasons why employees want to find another job is the lack of progression, according to 35% of respondents. Poor management and low pay follow at second and third place, with 25% and 7% respectively. On the other hand, despite employees being ready to move on to different jobs, the survey shows 54% of marketing leaders have difficulty with recruiting, due to ‘talent shortage.’

The parameters employees base their decision on when choosing a job are various, with 42% of marketers and creatives accepting their current job because it ‘looked exciting,’ 46% researching the company on social media and deciding the it seemed like a ‘fun and supportive place to work.’ Moreover, high quality offices were considered as a big advantage for 25% of employees, with the rest dismissing luxury workspaces as not a determining factor on whether they’ll accept a job offer. Last, three quarters of employees admitted they took their current job because they found their boss ‘likeable and inspirational.’

The above, prove that a caring environment and a friendly boss can be significant motivating factors within a business, promoting employees’ happiness and evolution. Regarding management, the survey has revealed encouraging results, showing that 88% of marketers and creatives consider their companies to be nurturing, two-thirds of employees think their bosses are good leaders and only 10% feel like their job doesn’t support them.

The survey has also shown that due to long working hours and heavy workloads, close to 40% of marketers and creatives state that they are drained by their job, while 25% feel close to burning out.

However, the barriers to productivity are not limited to long hours. Holding meetings about meetings has been claimed as the most important drawback by 65% of employs, followed by email volume, team members’ attitudes, and slow internet. Although discouraging, the workplace inconveniences aren’t driving people away from their jobs; 35% decide to look for another job due to lack of progression, 25% due to poor management and 7% due to low wage.

Regarding the work-life balance, a third of employees admitted they feel like their personal are being neglected and expressed concern about parenting responsibilities, among others. The work-life imbalance may not be a reason why people decide to change jobs, it is however the top reason 80% of freelancers gave for having left the structure and safety of a nine to five job.

Berry says, “Our research indicates that ensuring staff can move that career ladder and receive structured training development is key to keeping people on board. Employees want to be recognised for their work and effort. If employees feel valued, their job satisfaction is more likely to increase, along with their job tenure.”

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