Survey Finds Executive-Level Job Searches Taking Longer

Jan. 13, 2005
In a survey of senior executives in job transition, DBM, a New York-based human resources consulting firm, has found that the seekers are taking significantly longer today to land a job than at any other time over the last seven years. The data was ...

In a survey of senior executives in job transition, DBM, a New York-based human resources consulting firm, has found that the seekers are taking significantly longer today to land a job than at any other time over the last seven years. The data was gathered from about 650 senior-level executives who attended DBM's Center for Executive Options over a five-year period. The length of time to find a new, senior level position in today's job market is in excess of 12 months as opposed to about seven months in 1998. In addition, job tenure is decreasing. Average tenure has dropped from a high of 17 years in 2001 to 12 years in 2003, with 31% of those polled overall having been with their previous employer for five years or less. "Top jobs are taking longer to find and are more difficult to secure," says Denis St. Amour, president of the Center for Executive Options. "Decision makers are scrutinizing senior level applicants more closely. The good news is that organizations are looking for greater accountability. The bad news is that with increasingly shorter tenures, executives are under pressure to produce near-term results -- perhaps at the expense of longer-term success." Other outcomes that influence senior-level professionals experiencing a job search include:

  • Downsizing: In the years 2001-2003 year-to-date, 18% of executives were in transition due to a downsizing, versus 6.1% in the years 1997-2000.
  • Age: Average age of senior executives is decreasing from 50 to 46 years.
  • Compensation: Average compensation upon re-employment, while relatively stable for the last five years, has dropped 21% year-to-date from 2002.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!