Hodes New Voices Project Sheds Light on Career Path & Search Behavior Among Diverse Young Adults

June 4, 2009 - NEW YORK CITY, NY

Bernard Hodes Group, a leading provider of integrated talent solutions, today announced the results of its third edition of the New Voices Project survey, which measured the workplace attitudes and job search behaviors of diverse audiences within the millennial generation.

Defined as young adults between the ages of 16 and 29, the millennial generation will be the most diverse workforce ever in America, by race, gender and nationality. Among several revealing results from the survey is the fact that two-thirds of respondents cite diversity as a key issue when considering employment with an organization. 

“Corporate social responsibility, which includes diversity and inclusion, is indeed important to a large segment of the millennials, particularly among African Americans and Hispanics, when choosing an employer,” said Annette Merritt Cummings, vice president and national director, Hodes Diversity Services. “As the most technologically advanced generation in the workforce, employers must understand this audience as they refine their corporate Internet presence and develop their employer brand to reflect diversity.” 

When it comes to differences between how men and women utilize career information sources, women tend to be more open about speaking with friends and family about career options and information (82% vs. 74%), however, more men than women would walk into a company to apply for a job (52% vs. 36%). Men and women are nearly equal (50% vs 48%) in utilizing social networking for career and employment information.

Among minority respondents to the New Voices Project survey, 90 percent revealed that they visit social networking sites at least once a week, and 88 percent watch television at least once a week. Somewhat fewer read newspapers (60 percent) or magazines (50 percent). The most frequently visited social networking sites are YouTube (78%), Facebook (68%), and MySpace (68%). In regards to career/employment topics, 54 percent stated that they utilize their social networking to discuss these subjects.

“What’s important to remember about this research is that it’s not prescriptive of what solutions will work best, instead it reveals which tools will be useful as organizations develop unique solutions that work and allow them to positively engage their own employees and the “new voices” of the millennials in the workforce,” said Daria Friedman, vice president, research director at Bernard Hodes Group.

Additional survey highlights include:

• Minority millennials are more likely than their majority counterparts to want to see these items on an employer’s career site: diversity practices (23% vs. 4%), training programs (31% vs. 20%), and internships (25% vs. 16%).
• A greater percentage of minority vs. majority would attend a career fair (71% vs. 60%).
• On a scale of one to five, where five equals “extremely important”, women rated these practices more important than men did: diversity (4.11 vs. 3.45), social responsibility (3.89 vs. 3.38), and green practices (3.43 vs. 3.12).
• The top three most popular sources for searching for career/job information cited by minority millennials are attending a career fair (71%), speaking to friends or family members (69%) and visiting an online job board (68%).  

For more information about the Hodes New Voices Project, visit www.hodes.com/newvoices.

About Bernard Hodes Group

Bernard Hodes Group is a leading fully integrated talent solutions provider, Bernard Hodes Group (http://www.hodes.com) offers solutions that often combine multiple service offerings from the Company's core competency areas: Recruitment Marketing; Sourcing/Response Management; Hiring Process Re-engineering; and Staffing Technology (see http://www.hodesiQ.com). All solutions are developed and measured within the company's 360-degree process methodology. The company is headquartered in New York, with over 80 offices and affiliates around the globe. Bernard Hodes Group is a part of Omnicom Group, Inc., (NYSE - OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. Bernard Hodes Group serves thousands of clients in virtually every industry, helping them to attract and retain talented workers in every skill set.

Media contact:
Stacey Havel, Bernard Hodes Group
954-966-3500
shavel@mi.hodes.com