Executives Expect Lengthy Job Searches in Today's Economy, According to Latest Korn/Ferry Executive Quiz

    - Overwhelming Majority of Executives Say it May Take Four or More Months
to Find a New Position -

    LOS ANGELES, March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today's economy presents
job seekers with unrivaled challenges, uncertainty and the expectation of
prolonged periods of unemployment, according Executive Quiz results released
today by The Korn/Ferry Institute. Most of the respondents to Korn/Ferry's
latest study have never experienced a lengthy job search, but expectations are
changing. In fact, the vast majority of executives predict it will take job
seekers more than four months to find a new career opportunity in today's
turbulent market.

    Fewer than a third (29 percent) of survey respondents had ever required
more than three months to find a new career opportunity in the past. However,
the tough economic realities and significant job losses have altered
expectations moving forward. Eighty-three percent of respondents predict that
today's out-of-work executives will be hunting for more than four months for
their next opportunity. And 43 percent believe the process will take seven
months or longer.

    Responses from nearly 1,000 unemployed executives indicate that many are
just beginning their job search. Twenty-eight percent have been unemployed
less than a month, and 36 percent have been unemployed less than three months.
Just 18 percent indicate they have been searching for career opportunities for
seven months or longer.

    "In the executive ranks, lengthy job searches are not confined to poor
economies. It takes time to find the right cultural and functional fit for
each position and each candidate," said Cheryl Buxton, global managing
director of client services for Korn/Ferry. "We counsel both our clients and
candidates to be patient in the search process, and the current economic
environment only reinforces that need."

    One common alternative to jumping back into the labor force is pursuing
educational goals. Forty-three percent of unemployed executives say they have
either considered or are already going back to school to "wait out" the
downturn. Most jobless executives looking at educational opportunities are
considering MBAs (23 percent) or other advanced degrees (16 percent).

    When executives were asked what they miss most about working,
compensation not withstanding, the overwhelming majority (74 percent) missed
intellectual challenges in the workplace. Other answers included colleagues
(21 percent), travel (four percent) and perks such as an expense account,
company car, lunches or tickets (one percent).

    While most executives (55 percent) spend the majority of their time
between jobs searching for new opportunities, 23 percent focus their time on
professional development. Other executives opt to spend their time off more
leisurely with friends and family (12 percent), vacationing/hobbies (seven
percent) or just relaxing (three percent).

    Methodology

    The Korn/Ferry International Executive Quiz is based on a global survey
of executives registered within the firm's online Executive Center,
ekornferry.com. Respondents from more than 85 countries, representing a wide
spectrum of industries and functional areas, participated in the most recent
Executive Quiz in February 2009.

    About The Korn/Ferry Institute

    The Korn/Ferry Institute was founded to serve as a premier global voice
on a range of talent management and leadership issues. The Institute
commissions, originates and publishes groundbreaking research utilizing
Korn/Ferry's unparalleled expertise in executive recruitment and talent
development combined with its preeminent behavioral research library. The
Institute is dedicated to improving the state of global human capital for
businesses of all sizes around the world.

    About Korn/Ferry International

    Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), with more than 90 offices in 40
countries, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based
in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to
identify, deploy, develop, retain and reward their talent. For more
information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, visit
www.kornferry.com.

For further information: Carol Lo, Asia Pacific, +65.6231.6219,
carol.lo@kornferry.com, or EMEA, Juerg-Herbert Baertschi, +44 20 7312 3178,
juerg-herbert.baertschi@kornferry.com, both of Korn/Ferry International; or
Kevin Oates, The Americas, +1-310-584-8331, kevin.oates@ketchum.com, for
Korn/Ferry International Web Site: http://www.kornferry.com