Whenever a business has to hire that new employee, they have to decide whether they should search for candidates on their own, or elicit the help of an outside agency.  Traditional recruiting methods versus a recruiting firm is the typical conundrum, so why is using a firm the better option? 

Finding an employee has always consisted of the traditional methods.  Examples of these methods include online recruitment job boards, online ads, classifieds, and career resource sites.  Online recruitment has become a HUGE influencer in the job market, websites such as monster.com, jobs.com, careerbuilder.com, and other sites have dominated the online job scene.  Another traditional method is an employee referral program.  This entails finding job candidates from referrals that may come from other employees, family members, friends, or anyone that can get in touch with you and influence your decision.  So the question still remains, what benefit does a recruiter have over the traditional methods, and do I want to pay someone to find an employee for me?

When you decide to work with a recruiting firm to help fill your job posts you enter into a relationship with a recruiter who has a wealth of knowledge in a specific field that you are trying to hire for.  Placement after placement, these recruiters have learned the industry from front to back, side to side; they know their stuff to say the least.  When you choose a recruiting firm, cost effectiveness goes hand in hand.  When you mention cost effective around the “head honcho” of a business their eyes light up, and visions of improved margins can quickly become a reality.  Nothing triggers the “let’s do it” side of the brain like saving money.  Recruiters can save you money, in fact LOTS OF MONEY because they provide the right person to fit your employment needs.  In other words, you don’t go out and hire some person who you thought was great, who turns out to be unskilled or unstable, etc.  Imagine wasting an entire first years’ salary on the wrong person?…ouch.  Saving time is also a benefit of choosing a recruiting firm over the traditional methods.  Recruiters look through hundreds of resumes every month, this saves companies plenty of time in searching for that needle in a haystack.  Once these recruiters have searched through these resumes they present only the most qualified candidates to potential employers.

Going with the traditional methods could work, but if you want that perfect fit for your position and organization, it’s worth the time, effort and energy to work with a specialized recruiting firm Guaranteed it will save you time, money and unnecessary headaches.

When you’re looking to achieve the best possible performance during an interview, you want every possible advantage.  Your image projection can say as much, or more, about you than your remarks, so let us offer you a few tips to help you succeed in attaining the upper hand. First of all, observe the interviewer’s non-verbal cues and let their body language guide you during the interview.

Here are 5 body language cues you should look out for

1. The Tilting Head

If during an interview, you notice that the interviewer is tilting his or her head sideways, it’s generally an indication that they are engaged and listening.  In other words, this is a great sign that things are going well. Stay on target, maintain your heading, and carry on.

2. The Biting Lip

Another “tell” you can pick up from your interviewer’s body language is if he or she is biting their lip.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is the interviewer’s way of trying to act seductive. Actually, biting of the lip is usually a sign of anxiety or that you’ve touched upon a sensitive subject.  Unless you believe the topic is critical to the narrative of your interview, you should gracefully transition into a new topic.

3. The Neck Rub

The next non-verbal cue to look for (but hopefully never see) is for the interviewer to stretch or rub the back of his or her neck.  This signals boredom. Change the topic--let them know you’ve digressed and want to get back to business.

4. The Head Shake

Also, know that if at any point in the interview the interviewer begins to move their head from side to side, this is an almost universal sign of disagreement.  This signal of disapproval may be subtle, rather than the clear non-verbal “NO” you learned as a child. Don’t just let this slip by. Instead, take advantage of the moment and use it as an opportunity to shape the agenda of the interview.  

For example, call them out on the point of contention by saying something like “I have a feeling that you don’t agree” or “What part of what I’m saying is not sitting right with you?”  They’ll have no problem letting you know. This is a chance to refocus the narrative in a way that is advantageous for you.

5. Eye Contact is Key

Our last tip concerns the fundamental necessity to make eye contact throughout your interview.  In most cultures, and in most situations, making eye contact is a key aspect of how body language communicates internalized sensibilities.  If the interviewer is making eye contact with you, it means they are confident and listening to you intently. If they are not, it may mean that they are nervous, distracted, or possibly uninterested in the topic.  If this happens, take the lead in a quiet, but self-assured manner.  

Hopefully, this will make them feel more comfortable. However, if eye contact continues to decrease then you can bet the interviewer is losing interest.  It may be time to change the subject or conclude the discussion.

While most people cannot succeed in a job hunt that would require relocation, the good news is that executives have an edge: good executives are hard to come by.

As a result, long distance recruiters may be willing to hear you out if you present yourself properly. Use the tips below to improve your long-distance resume.

Follow these useful tips to improve your long-distance resume

Have a local address.

Having a local address on your resume shows the recruiter your commitment to move. You can use a friend or family address as your temporary location. Another option to consider is using a PO Box located within the targeted location—but then use the physical address where the PO Box is located as your address, when you need to list one, with PO Box as a suite number or apartment number.

If that’s not possible, then just list the city you are targeting at the top of your resume, at the minimum. Your primary objective here is letting the recruiter know you’re moving no matter what or give the initial impression that you are already in that location—you can explain when you get the interview phone call what the situation is.

Present yourself as an expert—don’t change careers at the same time.

Most people rely on communicating their task expertise when doing a long-distance job hunt. The result is they get nowhere. Additionally, when doing a long-distance job search, now is not the time to do a career change, as well. Capitalize on your current skill set to make the move, then once you move, change your profession/industry.

If you want a company in another city or state to consider y
our candidacy you must outline why it is worth their time to consider hiring someone outside of the local workforce. The way to do this is by presenting yourself as an expert who specializes in a certain skill by showcasing achievements.

The idea behind being specialized is that you are very good at a specific thing, which the accomplishment history to prove it. You can start by figuring out what it is you don’t do. For example, if you’re a Chief Financial Officer, such you should focus on the unique financial triumphs on your resume.

There is one caveat. We’re living in a time when careers are constantly changing. Consequently you must make sure your specialization is still in high demand in that area, which can be a little difficult to figure out. For a great example of how to specialize in any situation you can actually read about how the funeral industry constantly has to specialize in new things in order to survive. An extreme example, yes…but you get the idea…everyone has to do this to get traction.

Mention your commitment to relocate in the cover letter.

Once again, you must show the recruiter that you are committed to the move regardless of whether or not you get the job. Therefore saying something like “Open to Relocation” is not going to cut it. Instead say something like “I am relocating to your area on March 15th at which point I will be available for an interview.”

This would also be a good time to mention reasons for moving that have nothing to do with the job such as family or moving back to your hometown. This will at least have the recruiter think that you are actually going to move.

Tailor your resume to meet the immediate needs of the position.

As a candidate looking to relocate you will run into a challenge when competing with local easily accessible candidates. You can combat this by making sure your resume is specifically tailored for the role.

Read the job description carefully, pick out keywords and craft a resume that meets all of the requirements. Remember to use specific examples for the best results.

Written by Lisa Rangel, Executive Resume Writer

Audiovisual (AV) professionals handle a variety of complex operational procedures ranging from selling, installing and maintaining digital signage to setting up and monitoring live, in-person presentations.  Today, these professionals are in high demand in several industries including the luxury real estate, healthcare, and event/conference markets. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for AV professionals will grow at a rate of about 13 percent until 2026.

Here is a look at the AV positions that need to be filled

Salesmen

Even the best AV equipment won’t sell itself. Savvy salesmen are needed to reach out and close deals.

Sales Engineers

This position involves working closely with installation teams to verify dimensions, create diagrams and relay power requirements.

Installers

Speakers, screens and control devices all need to be set up for presentations - and the process can be complex.  Installers get you up and running instantly and account for potential configuration and interoperability issues.

AV Technicians

Events like trade shows and conferences need Technicians to maintain floor operations and handle processes like setup and removal.  Technicians are also required for on the spot issue resolution and troubleshooting.

Post-sales, customer-facing roles

This type of role is ideal for a worker with stellar personal skills who can communicate client needs, but is also technically-oriented and understands how audio and visual systems work and operate.

Browse All Jobs

Are you an A/V professional who is detail-oriented, patient, highly technical and adept at working with customers?  If so, J. Patrick & Associates has a long record of success placing sales, marketing, and technical management and staff for audiovisual and video conferencing vendors.

 

When talking about job applications, I always used to say that a cover letter was useless. 

It’s just more stuff to write.  I wasn’t a fan of the cover letter, to say the least.  While they were the norm until about ten years ago, thanks to online applications cover letters have become arguably outdated and certainly less-used.  

Today, the rule of thumb seems to be to not include a cover letter unless an employer specifically asks for one.  In fact, many employers disregard the cover letter when they see it. They just skim through the resume and throw the cover letter out like last week’s leftovers. 

Unfortunately, these employers miss the importance of the cover letter.  

The Importance of a Cover Letter

A cover letter actually gives the employer a great opportunity to really see who a candidate is prior to the interview.  

When well written, they can be a powerful communication tool.  Now, crafting this tool can take some serious word-smithing. So don’t just breeze through the writing process. Your cover letter should be a work of art and it can make you or break you in the eyes of a possible employer.  Consider this: your cover letter creates your first impression in the mind of the reader; definitely do not take it lightly.  

That said, a cover letter gives you a great opportunity to showcase your strengths in a longer format.  You can use a cover letter to really focus and elaborate on the specific qualities that make you the right fit for a position. They are the first step to getting that interview and eventually getting that job.

Cover Letters Can Help You Stand Out

These days, in the eyes of some, the cover letter is a dying document. Maybe it’s true that employers just don’t have the time to read through both the resume AND the cover letter.  And, yes, even recruiters don’t need a cover letter to place somebody, either. I can’t complain. Like I said before, I despise writing cover letters. But in reality, cover letters count. Without one, you miss the early chance to put yourself above the competition and really showcase what makes you unique.

Sales Engineer Salary Pie Chart

The Sales Engineer Salary 

Here at J. Patrick, we performed a Salary survey with salaries submitted anonymously, asking over 350 Sales engineers their 1-year salary. Above were the results.  As you can see from the graph we had a wide range of different salaries. Considering that we are a recruiter who specializes in placing Sales Engineers, we find it unacceptable that the highest percentage of salaries was the lowest amount on this chart, over 12% of the survey takers make under $65,000.  

According to Glassdoor, the average salary/annual salary for a sales engineer is $101,015 (national average). Salary ranges from about $60,000 to $200,000 depending on years of experience and performance.

If you would like to complete this survey, just select this link here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JPatrick

Looking for your next move? Check out our available Sales Engineer Jobs.