An Interview with a Career Research Guru

By Darlene Davis

Recently I had a exciting discussion with career research guru, Beth Kniss, regarding the powerful career management tool the Internet has become.  After Beth had given me numerous tips and insights (all found in her book, “Maximizing the Internet for Your Career”), I asked if I could share some of what she and I discussed with my DFW IACMP colleagues and Beth generously agreed.  Below is the first of several upcoming articles.  Watch for the articles and more information about Beth her work and her background.  Meanwhile you can reach her at infor@knisscareerresearch.com

Times are Changing:  Executives are using the Internet

By Beth Kniss

The Internet is no longer just a place for “techies” to find jobs – executive job seekers are increasingly using this powerful tool to enhance their own career objectives.  Consider the following statistics:

In a March, 2001 survey of 537 executives, with an average individual income of over $146,000, 6FigureJobs.com found the following:

Internet Supplementing Traditional Search Methods 92% of this group intend to utilize the Internet in their next job search, with Retained Recruiters (85%) and Personal Contacts/Networking (83%) listed as other strongly preferred methods.  Only 29% expected to utilize classified advertising (down from 39% in July of 2000), underscoring the continued erosion of "traditional” recruiting venues.  When asked what frustrated them most about Internet job sites, top complaints were as follows:

·         Never hearing back from employers (71%) 

·         Too many low level jobs (62%)

·         Too hard to track progress/applications (42%)  

·         No good sites for my level of experience (36%)

Source:  Top-tier Executives Optimistic on Economy and Employment Prospects, PR Newswire, April 11, 200

*************************************************************************************

The job-hunting resources available today are unlike anything offered during past economic downturns.  A recent poll of job-seeking executives found that 97 percent used the Internet to research potential employers.  And, until fairly recently most job boards were the purview of techies and entry-level job seekers. 

Source:  How to Recession-Proof Your Career, Richard Ream, Information Today, October 1, 2001

*************************************************************************************

A recent survey by Lee Hecht Harrision, a global outplacement and career services firm, found only 2 percent of out-of-work executives refuse to use the Internet in their job searches.  About 97 percent used the Internet to research organizations they're interested in, 96 percent to find out about job openings, and 76 percent to post resumes online.

Source:  Out in the Field: Workplace When Cisco Speaks,  Dictionaries Open, Boston Globe, March 25, 2001

*********************************************************************************************

These statistics clearly outline a trend – executives are increasingly using the Internet for career activities.  Five years ago, when working with executives in the midst of career transtion, I would offer the concept of posting their resume in a jobs database on the Internet.  The majority of executives would express some form of discomfort ranging from, “Is that something an executives does?” to “What about my privacy?”

In more recent times, the reactions have shifted, and executives are outwardly asking, “Where are good places for me to post?” and “Should I post my resume ‘publicly’ or ‘privately?”

The Internet is increasingly supporting the career management activities of multiple audiences – times and attitudes are certainly changing.