Good News for DM Job Hunters

Nearly three out of four direct marketing companies plan to add staff during the first quarter, according to the latest employment survey conducted by Owatonna, MN-based search firm Bernhart Associates Executive Search.

Bernhart president Jerry Bernhart said in a statement that 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 survey respondents said they intended to hire staff during the first quarter of 2006, while 6% said they plan to reduce staff. Both figures are nearly identical to those for the first quarter of 2005. In addition, the percentage of respondents reporting a hiring freeze fell to a record low 7%.

Sales positions were listed as the jobs that will be in highest demand this quarter, followed by account management and analysts. A total of 134 direct marketing companies responded to the survey, which was e-mailed to participants the first week of January.