Engineers choose moving companies over a pay rise in their current job

New research from CV-Library, the UK independent job board, reveals that nearly half of engineers (47.4%) say moving companies is their main career priority right now, over learning new skills or securing a pay rise in their current job.

The findings, which surveyed 2,000 UK professionals, found that workers in the industry also want to gain a new qualification and job title within the next 12 months. The full list of career priorities include:

Move to another company (47.4%)    

* Learn new skills (44.9%)    

* Get a pay rise (39.7%)    

* Gain a new qualification (25.6%)    

* Get a new job title (23.1%)    

* Get a promotion (20.5%)    

* Change job roles (16.7%)    

* Change industries (12.8%)    

* Work for themselves (10.3%)    

* Build a personal network (9%)    

What’s more, only 32.1% of engineers believe they can meet these career priorities with their current employer, as nearly three-quarters (71.3%) say they employer isn’t responsive to their needs. 

As a result, a staggering 80% of engineers plan on changing jobs in order to achieve their dreams.

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments: “Sometimes, the best way to get ahead in your career is to explore employment opportunities outside of your current company. However, just be wary of job hopping.

“A long list of short stints in a range of companies can sometimes be off-putting for employers, suggesting that you’re not going to stick around for very long.

“If you’ve exhausted all your options and sat down with your current employer to discuss your career goals, but still aren’t satisfied, then don’t hold back. Just be sure to read job adverts thoroughly and ask the right questions in interviews to ensure it meets your needs.”

The survey also asked respondents what their top career goals are for the next three and five years, with the trend of getting a pay rise (46.8% in three years and 47.4% in five) and learning new skills (36.7% in the next three years and 34.6% in five) remaining a high priority.

Biggins continues: “There’s definitely more to a job role than your salary. So, when negotiating a new contract or a job offer, don’t just consider the pay packet. 

“Think about the career development opportunities, the workplace perks on offer and the relationships you can make in the industry if the salary falls short of your expectations. 

“Indeed, it’s promising to see that so many engineers are keen to learn new skills. This can definitely make you more employable, especially as many employers are struggling to find the right hires right now. Learning new skills is an excellent way to secure yourself more opportunities and a better paid job down the line.”