Future Workplace, a research firm dedicated to rethinking and re-imagining the workplace, and Nexxt recently announced results of a national survey that found a disconnect between employers and job seekers. The “Active Job Seeker Dilemma” survey includes a national sample of 4,347 job seekers, as well as 129 human resource (HR) professionals. According to 71% of HR professionals surveyed, employee referrals are the best resource for finding candidates, yet only 7% of job seekers surveyed view referrals as their top resource for finding a job. In today’s employment landscape, job seekers who are “passive” with a wide network of referrals have the advantage over job seekers who are “active.”

When it comes to the job search, “passive job seekers,” or those who are employed but open to new opportunities, have a better chance of being hired over “active job seekers,” or those who are unemployed and searching for work. Employers value “passive job seekers” and according to the survey, 80% of HR professionals believe “passive job seekers” become the most effective employees. HR professionals also say the benefits of hiring a “passive job seeker” over an “active” one include: they have more experience (44%), they possess valuable skills (44%) and they take their careers seriously (42%). However, many job seekers are unaware of this advantage. When asked about who has a better edge in the job market, less than half (47%) of job seekers said “passive job seekers”.

In addition to the “active job seeker” disconnect, the survey also revealed the sentiment of HR professionals and job seekers in various areas.

[Excerpted from Workforce]

With crippling student loan debt the norm these days, a survey finds employees are attracted to companies that offer repayment benefits.

Every day parents and students alike research the cost of a college education — and sticker shock sets in. Even worse than knowing the cost of college is actually paying the bills after graduation.

That’s why some employers are now looking to attract talent by setting their sights on something that pains many young people in the workforce: crippling levels of student loan debt.