Struggling to recruit - Account Manager, Wiltshire

[The Selfish Gene]

yeah but the issue is - Account Manager is a middle to senior role in IT.

the salary you are offering is very junior.

You are not stating the salary and thus getting senior applicants that you don't want.

Example I have 2 - 5 years of Account Manager Experience in my 25 years of experience.

So maybe I'd apply thinking you're paying a 'competitive salary'

Thus wasting your time.

So - simple option - put the number on, and everyone will know the level of person you're looking for

simples

Edited by The Selfish Gene on Tuesday 16th October 16:15

[alex98uk]

I'm going to buck the trend and say the lack of salary figure most likely isn't the reason. I came out of Uni and into the working world in 2010/2011 and even up until now, I will happily apply for companies who list "competitive" salary. Worst case scenario, I interview, I will ask them directly the range and if it doesn't suit, then that's that.

I think it may well be down to your geographic location. I've worked in the tech side of digital marketing for a while and I know the vast majority of young people are looking to work and move to cities where they can spend their cash and maintain a lifestyle. I was living in the North Wiltshire countryside area but all the jobs I looked for were to be in London. I didn't even consider Wilts mainly because I didn't want to live there.

That might be the road block you're hitting. You're offering a reasonable salary for youngsters, but you're offering it in a place where youngsters don't want to live. Hence, you get the older sales guys who are more interested in settling down and seeing out their final years in the country.

Perhaps you would be more suited to offer the role in London if you still have an office there, or perhaps offer a remote working role with monthly travel on site for catch ups. It's exactly what i've done for the last few years and I know many, many people doing the same.

[Royce44]

Would changing the job title to "business development" be less daunting too junior applicants?

Ps I agree about salary. Advertise it as a fixed rate and you've instantly highlighted to the reader of the type of person your trying to hire.

[hooblah]

I'd gladly take the role if it was home-based *hint hint*

[Mojooo]

IMO for jobs under 40k which 'the masses' will be looking at you need to put a salary as people will be put off otherwise.

Also do you really need someone with experience if its that junior? You could find a good person who could potentially be trained from scratch..

[Jerry Can]

take a look at meta morphose recruitment, based in Cheltenham. Yes they want a commission, but they will be able to provide you with the level of experience of candidates that you appear to require.

[KAgantua]

2-5 years experience is 'junior'?

Account manager on 20k?

LOL

[vsonix]

In this day and age 'job hopping' is usually not the fault of the candidate; it's employers being rubbish meaning that people want to move on as soon as they can.

OP, your job is probably paying too little yet asking too much in terms of experience.

[MitchT]

maturin23 said:

We are looking to pay a basic of between £20k/£30k with an anticipated commission/bonuses of £10k/£15k on top. These are such broad ranges that they are pretty much meaningless though.

Not as meaningless as putting "competitive" or nothing at all.

Employment is a simple enough concept - You need to avail yourself of someone's skills - They need money to pay for food and shelter. You'd bin an application from someone simply putting what they want to be paid but not giving any indication that they have the prerequisite skills, so why do the equivalent by specifying what you want of an employee but not indicating what you're giving in return? A salary band, no matter how broad, is infinitely better than nothing or bullst phrases like "competitive".

[romeogolf]

Firstly I would make it clear that you're looking for a junior account manager in the advert. That said after 2 years are you really still junior?

Secondly, list a salary range. £20-30k is too broad - It says to me that you don't really know what you're looking for, or what you want to pay, and that you'll try and get me for as little as possible. If you want to pay the right person £30k, advertise a role for £25-30k and don't employ someone too junior. As a rule I never apply for jobs without a clear enough advert for me to understand the salary I am likely to be offered. I also won't apply for anything with exaggerated salaries/commission claims - They're too easy to see straight through. Be sensible with the advert and be accurate. You should have an idea of the performance/sales rate of the person you're looking to hire and what commission would be paid on that. Advertise it.

As others have said, job hopping is not always a bad sign. Ask people why they left. Were they promised the world at interview and received nothing like it? Was there a restructuring at the company leaving their role diminished or changed? Was it a temporary contract? Redundancy? Or are they the high-achiever you're looking for who has recognised that they can do better?