Human Resources: WHERE TO AND FOR HOW MUCH?

MENLO PARK, CA -- Employers take note: Successfully recruiting top executives from outside of the area takes more than the promise of a plush office and an impressive job title. Thirty-one percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) polled recently said the quality of life in a new city would most influence their decision to relocate for a job opportunity; 27 percent cited compensation as the foremost consideration.

The survey was developed by Robert Half International Inc., the world´s first and largest staffing service specializing in the accounting, finance and information technology fields. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.

CFOs were asked, "Which one of the following would most influence your decision to relocate to a different city to pursue a better job opportunity?" Their responses:

Quality of life in new city		31%
Compensation for new position		27%
Cost of living in new city		13%
Status of new position		6%
Distance of move		5%
Family considerations		1%
Other		1%
Would not move		12%
Don't know/no answer		4%
		100%

"Taking a job in a new town is not just a career decision -- it is a lifestyle choice," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc. and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies^® (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "Companies that highlight the qualities that distinguish their city, such as a reputation for safety, highly regarded school system or cultural events, increase their chances of attracting top professionals."

The distance of the move is less important than such factors as compensation and the new city´s cost of living, Messmer noted. He added, "Employers enhance their ability to secure commitments from prospects by taking steps to ensure a smooth transition for employees, including providing information about housing and assisting with job placement for spouses, if appropriate."

Robert Half International Inc. has more than 330 locations throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and offers online job search services at www.rhi.com.