Nearly three-quarters of all direct marketing companies anticipate adding staff this winter, according to a quarterly employment survey. The strongest demand is for the sales, account management, analytics and database disciplines, according to Jerry Bernhart, president of Bernhart Associates Executive Search, which coordinates the survey.
“I’m seeing more [open] positions for sales than I have in a long time,” Bernhart said. “The industry has come from survival mode to recovery mode. Now companies appear to be in revenue mode. Sales reps are growing demand. Companies are interested in more than profitability: They’re focusing on generating more business.”
According to survey respondents, 70% anticipate increasing their staff levels during the first quarter of 2005, up from 60% last quarter. Only 5% foresaw cuts, and 8% reported hiring freezes. In comparison, immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks the number anticipating a freeze stood at 40%.
Results were culled from 144 respondents to a survey sent out by the Owatonna, MN-based search firm. Companies interested in being added to future survey panels should send an e-mail to email: [email protected], with the word “opt-in” in the subject line.
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