If you’re looking for a job in direct marketing, you may be in luck.
Three out of four DM companies are planning to add staff this winter, according to a job survey by Bernhart Associates Executive Search. Sales jobs are in the highest demand, followed by account management and analysts.
“The numbers are holding steady at multi-year highs,” said President Jerry Bernhart. “It appears 2006 is shaping up to be another good year for direct marketing job opportunities. I’m certainly seeing it on the recruitment side where business this month is off to a very strong start, just like it was last year at this time.”
Seventy percent of the companies that responded to the survey said that they plan to hire more people during the first quarter. Bernhart said that figure is down 10% from last quarter but that the survey is not seasonably adjusted so that did not surprise him.
“The year-to-year comparisons are what we look at most, and since 2002 we have started each year with a higher level of new staffing, although this year we seem to have plateaued,” he said.
Six percent of companies are planning to eliminate positions. Both stats are on par with the same time last year. The number of companies reporting a hiring freeze is 7%, a record low.
The study is in its fifth year. A total of 134 DM companies responded, which was e-mailed during the first week of January.