Just-In-Time Hiring?

Since the Internet bust, more employers are ignoring the traditional hiring season to scout talent year-round. Any surprise to you? Shouldn't be.

According to Business Week: "Having hiring decisions match budget cycles appeals to many companies that want to make more informed and economical hiring decisions. When the dot-com bubble burst at the start of the decade, companies that had hired lots of MBAs in early winter found themselves forced to renege on offers. To avoid over-hiring while the economy has remained tight, many companies have continued waiting until later in the academic year to determine which MBAs would get a job. Year-round hiring of MBAs could continue indefinitely. More than 50% of respondents to the MBA Career Services Council spring 2005 employment survey say companies are still hiring only on an as-needed basis, even though the economy is getting better. General MBA job placement, in fact, is expected to be up about 25% this year, according to the National Association of Colleges & Employers."