The SoFi Quarterly Career Trends Report takes a look at job market and compensation trends from the past quarter and helps professionals understand how this data may impact their careers going forward. Heading into the second half of 2015, wages continue to lag behind job creation, making it difficult for job-seekers to find high paying jobs. If your goal is salary progression, you should enter the market with caution.

Here are some highlights from the report:

Student loans: Can’t live with ’em, can’t get a college degree without ‘em. At least, that’s the case for most of us.

Despite all the negativity surrounding the subject of student loan debt, the general consensus is that it’s better to have a degree than not have one – even if you have to contend with loans in order to afford it. After all, the typical college grad enjoys higher earning potential and lower unemployment than those without a degree.

SoFi, the second largest marketplace lender, today announced Joanne Bradford has joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer.  Bradford was most recently head of partnerships at Pinterest. She is a seasoned executive highly regarded for her experience driving growth at some of the country’s leading startups, Fortune 500 and media companies.  In her new role she will oversee the company’s consumer-facing functions including marketing, business development, partnerships, and member services.

Bradford joins SoFi, ranked as one of the Bay Area’s fastest growing fintech companies, at a pivotal time in its growth.  The firm has funded more than $3 billion in the past year across personal loans, mortgages and student loan refinancing. As SoFi moves closer toward its goal of becoming the primary financial services partner for members, it is on course to surpass $5 billion in total funded loans by year-end.

“I’m thrilled to add Joanne to SoFi’s executive team,” said Mike Cagney, SoFi CEO and co-founder. “Her track record leading high growth companies speaks for itself, and we look forward to her contributions as we accelerate our transformation of financial services.”

Bradford’s arrival signifies SoFi’s commitment to build out unique channels to market and an exceptional member experience.  Under Bradford’s leadership SoFi will:

— Invest heavily in its Member Success programs that provide a lifetime of valuable support and community. SoFi’s Career Strategy division, for example, has counseled more than 1,000 members and has helped more than 120 secure new jobs to date.

— Scale its partnerships with leading employers and member organizations. Currently, approximately one in four members are introduced to SoFi through these partnerships, and that figure is expected to significantly grow moving forward.

— Accelerate its marketing investment to extend reach and deepen engagement with members, its most powerful advocates. Currently, nearly half of SoFi’s new applicants have heard about the firm from friends, family, or colleagues.

“Like internet advertising, there is a huge first mover advantage in fintech,” said Bradford.  “SoFi is on the forefront of modern money, leading the way. I can’t imagine a better place to be.”

About SoFi 

SoFi is a leader in marketplace lending and the largest provider of student loan refinancing, with over $3 billion dollars in loans issued.  We’re transforming financial services for high achieving members with student loan refinancing, mortgages, mortgage refinancing, and personal loans.  Unlike traditional lenders, our proprietary underwriting approach takes into account merit and employment history to offer unique credit products our members won’t find elsewhere. We offer individual and institutional investors the ability to create positive social impact on the communities they care about while earning compelling rates of return.

This year, SoFi was the only marketplace lender recognized as a CNBC Disruptor 50 company; it also ranked on the Wall Street Journal’s Billion Dollar StartUp Club and Fortune’s Unicorn List.  For more information, visit SoFi.com.