Where do your potential recruits turn for advice?

Hiring managers might think they're the only ones making tough decisions during the recruitment process, but sometimes candidates are also put under pressure. After all, choosing the right job can be just as stressful as picking the right recruit is for a business. 

Because of this, it pays to have an idea of how the people you've interviewed are approaching the situation, so you can use your recruitment software to target the right people. 

Recruitment expert Robert Half conducted research through its Accountemps subsidiary to discover just who people turn to when they are contemplating career shifts. 

Almost half (43 per cent) will consult their spouse or significant other once they're offered a new job to ensure it's the best choice. The next most popular option was friends – at 21 per cent – which makes an interesting point, as candidates seem to consider personal advice more valuable than professional feedback. 

Mentors weren't far behind, however, with a fifth of respondents turning to them when in between jobs. In the 2007 survey, this number was as high as 41 per cent and the friends category was as low as 3 per cent, marking a noticeable change over recent years. 

District President of Accountemps Bill Driscoll believes this is because family and friends offer a unique perspective that is more in tune with what the modern employee is looking for. However, he also cautioned not to ignore a mentor.

"Although spouses and friends, who have a thorough understanding of your personal ambitions and professional goals, are well-suited to help you assess a career opportunity, don't overlook the valuable perspective that a mentor within your field can provide," he said. 

Accountemps also focused on the topic areas that these people are likely to advise on, finding that potential remuneration, company success and workplace culture will all factor into this decision.