The Chicago-based technology and logistics company ShipBob isn’t tiny — it has about 500 employees — but it has been hiring at a furious pace. The company helps online retailers offer two-day shipping — vital if they want to keep up with Amazon and other large retailers. It also offers systems that let clients track inventories and route orders to the nearest warehouses.
Not that it’s easy to find new workers. “It’s a very competitive market,” said Lauren Alford, director of recruiting and onboarding at ShipBob. To attract white-collar employees, ShipBob offers an unusual perk — unlimited time off.
“People don’t abuse it,” said Kristina Lopienski, content marketing manager at ShipBob. “We are offering that flexibility if something comes up personally. We’re not watching you clock in and clock out.”
In addition to hiring salaried employees at its Chicago headquarters, ShipBob has been recruiting hourly workers at five fulfillment centers. In May, the company hired more than two dozen at headquarters and over 50 at those warehouses.
That’s good news as new college graduates enter the job market, said Tom Gimbel, chief executive of LaSalle Network, a Chicago recruiting and staffing company.
Jobs that used to offer starting salaries of $30,000 to $40,000 are paying $40,000 to $50,000, Mr. Gimbel said. “I’m talking about liberal arts graduates, not engineering or accounting majors,” he said. Many entry-level positions in fields like sales, marketing and human resources routinely pay $40,000 to $45,000.
“My clients are investing,” Mr. Gimbel said. “They’re not afraid to pull the trigger.”
Nor are clients jittery about the recent volatility on Wall Street. “It mirrors the political landscape,” he added. “Just the way Trump creates chaos, people don’t see the chaotic market as an indicator.”
Matt Phillips and Ben Casselman contributed reporting.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/07/business/economy/may-jobs-report-economy.html?emc=rss&partner=rss
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