No End In Sight For Employment Markets Growth

A recent survey conducted by ExecuNet, the executive job search and recruiting network, reveals recruiters are upbeat about the employment market following a sharp increase in executive job growth during the first half of 2005.



According to the survey of 129 executive recruiters, the search industry is expecting a 17% increase in the number of assignments it receives from clients during the second half of the year -- slightly more than the 15% increase in assignments reported during the first six months of 2005.

During the second half of the year, the following industries are expected to generate the greatest growth in executive-level jobs:

Current Ranking (January 2005 Ranking)

1. Pharmaceutical/Biotech (#2)

2. Healthcare (#1)

3. Financial Services (#3)

4. High-Tech (#5)

5. Business Services (#4)

ìWhile the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industries continue to top the list, thereís solid job growth in nearly all segments of the market,î says Mark Anderson, President of ExecuNet. ìIf job growth at the executive level continues at this pace, controlling executive turnover will be a top priority for organizations in the year ahead.î

The functions expected to be in greatest demand in the second half of 2005 include:

Current Ranking (January 2005 Ranking)

1. Sales (#1)

2. Operations Management (#6)

3. Marketing (#3)

4. Finance (#5)

5. General Management (#4)

Dropping out of the list of the top five functions for job growth was Business Development, which was ranked second in January.

ìWith corporate profits climbing, companies are looking to add executive talent across the entire organization to manage growth,î says Anderson. ìIn some cases, the demand for talent is already greater than the supply.î

To help executives uncover new opportunities in employment market, ExecuNet offers the following suggestions for working with search firms:

Learn The Process. Understanding how an executive search is conducted is the first step in developing meaningful relationships with recruiters. Many candidates are quick to forget that executive recruiters earn a living by focusing on their clientsí needs ñ and not the candidates.

Leverage Your Network. Establishing a relationship with a recruiter can be difficult because they usually prefer to initiate contact with candidates that have already been screened through their network. Given this preference, your best bet for getting on a recruiterís radar is to search your own network for contacts that personally know the executive recruiters in your industry then request an introduction.

Differentiate Yourself. Before starting the search process, develop a clear sense of what separates you from other professionals with similar work experience. Recruiters are always looking for candidates that will give their clients a competitive advantage. To help set yourself apart from your peers, focus on accomplishments that improved your employersí bottom line.

For more information on improving job search skills, executives can log on to www.execunet.com/report to request a free copy of Job Search Success: 12 Expert Strategies, an ExecuNet guidebook full of advice and tips from leading career experts.

ExecuNet, a career management and recruiting network for executives and recruiters, is a recognized authority in executive hiring and recruiting trends. ExecuNet helps members identify career opportunities and attain professional success by providing exclusive job postings, opportunities and tactics designed to expand personal and professional networks, and career advancement strategies.