In order to attract young talented employees into the workplace bosses are being advised that it does not just take financial rewards.

This is the claim made in a new report from Cisco, which showed that skilled professionals in this demographic are looking for incentives beyond salary, including an open environment in which to work that allows them to use social media and connected devices.

In addition, the company found students and young people also wanted the potential for remote working so that they can accommodate their lifestyles into their jobs.

The 2011 Cisco Connected World Technology Report indicated that such perks can mean the difference between candidates choosing positions and opting for another role.

A total of 56 per cent of students questioned worldwide said that they would turn down a job offer or would accept and find a way of getting round the rules if a firm barred them from accessing social media.

The Cisco survey may be of particular interest to recruiters in Australia who have been warned in a recent report by Deloitte that companies need to start thinking about how they will address the looming skills shortages the country appears to be facing.

Posted by Lee Thrace