Job Seekers Using Every Means Necessary to Secure Jobs

February 3, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Employers looking to take advantage of the pool of talent out there due to layoffs during the economic crisis should use a variety of tools, as a recent survey suggests job seekers are using every technique possible to secure positions.

A CareerBuilder press release said its survey found 22% of workers who were laid off in the last 12 months and found new jobs say they found their new roles through personal referrals. Twenty-one percent found new jobs using online job boards, 11% through newspapers and other print classifieds, and 8% through recruiting/staffing firms.

In addition, 5% found their new positions through career fairs and 4% through social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, according to the announcement.

The survey also found some workers are still willing to compromise to secure a job.  While 61% of those laid off in the past 12 months who found new jobs reported they were able to negotiate comparable or higher pay for their new position, 39% took a pay cut. Also, more than a quarter (26%) relocated to a new city or state, up from 20% in CareerBuilder's June survey.

Of those who are still looking for employment, 37% reported they would consider relocating for a job opportunity.

Nearly three-in-ten workers (29%) who have not found jobs are considering starting their own business.

CareerBuilder found 58% of those laid off in the last twelve months have secured new positions - 51% found new full-time positions, and 7% found part-time positions.

The survey was conducted between November 5 and November 23, 2009, among more than 1,000 workers who were laid off from full-time jobs within the last 12 months.

Rebecca Moore
editors@plansponsor.com