Margaret Milkint.

“It was a surreal time,” says Margaret Resce Milkint of Jacobson Executive Search. “We saw some companies with a ‘holding-back’ hiring philosophy, and we saw companies that were committed to bringing in people and doing the best business they could during that trying time.”

The events of September 11 changed companies’ perception of risk. “We need to insure business continuity based on the fact that disasters can actually happen,” comments one IT pro.

“It has generated heightened awareness,” agrees Lori Cunningham, human resource director for IT at Liberty Mutual. “We’ve increased our focus on business continuity, data security and disaster recovery, including our ability to execute test scenarios more frequently.”

Andy Baker of Allstate observes that “Companies are gearing up security across the board, whether it’s in IT or the security guard at the front gate.”

September 11 has had its impact on job-seekers, too, says Milkint. “There’s a real shift to small cities like Appleton, WI; Erie, PA and Peoria, IL. More people are interested in jobs in America’s heartland now. They’re looking for values, security and safety.”

D/C