Money rules when you look for a new job? You bet.

"Salary is the most important factor for me when I look for a new job," Angel Chau senior analyst from an IT company, told China Daily.

"I think what matters most while switching a job is salary," said Damon Sou, managing editor of a publication organization.

Chau and Sou said this during a study being carried out by Ambition, Hong Kong's leading recruiter and contractor.

According to an Ambition web poll that covered 2,180 people between July 1 and September 30, 54 per cent respondents ranked salary as the most important factor while looking for a change in job.

"Job seekers actually take a number of factors into consideration when they plan their next career move but salary tops their thinking list," said Guy Day, managing director of Ambition (Asia).

Day, however, said that changing a job only for a higher rise would be a "short-sighted approach".

"While changing jobs people should also think of long-term career prospects," Day said.

"Employers are becoming more prudent with the selection process, and candidates with resumes showing job changes without a valid explanation could actually be the first to be screened out," he said. An earlier Ambition report had shown that Hong Kong's recruitment process as a whole took 30 per cent longer in 2006 than the previous year, even though more jobs were on offer.

"Recruiting an accountant, for instance, is suuposed to take four weeks in 2006 compared to three weeks last year. As for the recruitment of a senior accountant, such as a financial controller, the time needed could be as long as four months, about one month longer than in 2005," Day said.

Apart from salary, the Ambition research showed that 17 per cent of the 2,180 respondents listed working hours as the second most important factor, followed by a company's reputation (15 per cent) and staff training (14 per cent).

"Employers and employees both are increasingly aware of the importance of the balance between work and life," Day said.

"We are glad to see the Hong Kong government and an increasing number of private organizations follow the global trend of five working days, and we believe that a good balance between work and life will definitely improve employees' productivity and efficiency," he said. Official data show that working overtime is common in Hong Kong because employees have to work an average of 48 to 54 hours per week.

Chau and Sou, both of whom listed a company'e reputaion as the second important factor, however, seemed to be willing to accept longer working hours in exchange for being employed by a reputable company.

Working for big companies will provide an edge in resumes that, in turn, will attract a certain group of employers, they said. Chau and Sou both work for prestigious companies now.

Day agreed with the two. "But not all job seekers will fit a large company's culture," he said, "hence, some of them are attracted to smaller companies offering greater empowerment."

"We advise job seekers to do self-analysis before determining which path to follow."

"Staff training is quite important, too," Day said. "It's only companies that are willing to invest in staff training that can help employees to develop their career further."

Chau and Sou have weighed up the benefits of the staff training very much. "It will offer me a chance to acquire new skills and gain more knowledge from my job and it will lay a solid foundation for my future career development," Chau said.