What Our Clients Say About Us…
From the moment I first connected with Chris, it was clear that takes his job very seriously, but also personally in getting to know you and what qualities you look for in your prospective employer. I was fortunate to have Chris help me navigate a very challenging time in my life, and even after a hiccup, we both stayed the course and found the perfect company for me to continue my career. He has a personality that is easy to work with, and he makes sure you are well informed and prepared during every step of the process. An easy guy to work with, he even goes the extra mile after you are placed in your new role with various methods of following up. I would highly recommend anyone who is trying to advance their careers partner up with Chris.Recommendation – Packaging Sales
Chris was fantastic to work with. As a candidate I felt constantly informed and was always up to date on where the hiring company was in the process. Chris rarely took longer than an hour to return my call even with a 3 hour time difference. I am thrilled with this new role but if I am ever in the position to change careers In the future then Chris would my very first call.Candidate Testimonial – Packaging
"I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mark as both a hiring manager and a candidate. My experience on both sides was very much the same. Mark is a trusted career consultant who sees the bigger picture, takes the longer view, wants the best thing for both parties. He has vast experience in matching candidates to role and has a wealth of knowledge to tap in any instance. It is a pleasure to work with someone who values integrity, balances what’s right and is an optimist."
Mark Manka, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis
Society of Anesthesiologists"I recently worked with Chris on a high level search. He was very thorough in understanding our company culture as well as the qualifications our team needed. He produced many of exceptional candidates. Chris was easy to work with throughout the process. I would certainly recommend Chris for your hiring needs."
Elena Puerner, HR Manager
Schoeller Arca Systems"I recently worked with Chris on two successful candidate searches. He was very thorough in understanding the qualifications we wanted for each position and produced a number of good candidates that met those qualifications. Chris was great to work with throughout the process. I would certainly recommend Chris for your talent acquisition needs."
John England, National Sales Manager
Signode Packaging"Chris is an effective recruiter because he spends a great deal of time listening to the needs of the role and seems to have a lot of solid contacts in the industry Get More Information. He follow ups well and is focused on making the right fit."
Jill Russell, VP of Sales
Olam International"I have had the great pleasure of meeting and developing a working relationship with Chris Hillman of Search Path of Chicago. Chris is an outstanding individual with extensive knowledge and an excellent reputation in the Ethanol Industry. Chris is a very honest person and is extremely passionate about his career. Chris takes immense pride in his wide and vast knowledge in the entire Ethanol Industry. His knowledge and skills are amazing and are very helpful to our company as well as to other people in the Ethanol Industry. Chris is very fair and loyal in his actions. He is constantly using his renewed skills and knowledge to achieve better results to bring excellent candidates. It’s a great honor to know and be associated with Chris Hillman of SearchPath of Chicago."
Alex Shifman, Marketing Director
CTE Global, Inc."SearchPath has given our business a competitive advantage by providing us with the personnel that have the abilities and experience to make the difference."
Tom Trauscht, VP of Sales & Marketing
Ivex Protective Packaging, Inc."In the past, I’ve had a number of job positions that called for unusual blends of skill sets that I have had difficulty filling through traditional means. Patrick has come through on multiple occasions with strong candidates whom I have hired and they have had successful careers. Patrick takes the time to understand the position needs thoroughly and finds and screens quality candidates. I strongly recommend Patrick."
Vincent Lanning, R&D Program Manager
Hi-Tech Mold"SearchPath of Chicago has been a partner with my position vacancy searches for 2.5 years as a manager for BSN Medical. In a few short words, my experience has been terrific! Greg Daly has been the go-to person for me and he has been outstanding to work with! He is diligent in his process, he is timely in his responses, he is personable, pleasant and sharp. His response time is second to none and I have had NOTHING but positive interactions with he and the staff at the firm. I would highly recommend Greg for the vacancy needs and will be continuing to use he and SearchPath of Chicago’s services in the years to come!"
BSN Medical
"I utilized Greg in my region as a recruiter for more than 36 months. He is highly motivated with a very strong work ethic. He understands what qualifications are needed and has always been able to close selected candidates. Greg has a energy level that guarantees results."
Joe Joulwan
"I recently worked with Chris on several successful searches. He was very thorough in understanding our company culture as well as the qualifications our team needed for each position. He produced many of exceptional candidates that met or exceeded those qualifications. Chris was easy to work with throughout the process. I would certainly recommend Chris for your hiring needs."
Tina Kaveney, Human Resources Director
Angleboard"I have worked with Chris for many years in placing several highly qualified candidates within various organizations. He is thorough, ethical and extremely good at delivering the right candidates for the requested roles. I consider him a valuable extension to my HR department!"
Lisa Teeters, Director of Human Resources
"Chris Hillman is a real professional who “walks the walk” when it comes to executive search, particularly in the food ingredient space. Chris came exactly as advertised, with a deep list of contacts relevant to our search for a new CEO. We had a working list of highly qualified candidates in a very short period of time, and Chris helped us to manage the process of winnowing the field down to ‘short list’, and ultimately to the final candidate. All through the effort Chris was always available, responsive to our needs, and with the appropriate level of drive/push. I highly recommend Chris for your next search engagement."
Board Member, Food Ingredients Manufacturer
SearchPath of Chicago News
SearchPath of Chicago, Inc. #1 Franchise in 2020
CHICAGO, IL, (Feb. 18, 2021) – SearchPath of Chicago, a national executive search firm focused on sectors including packaging materials, manufacturing, food ingredients, biofuels, raw materials (for dietary supplements and sports nutrition), nutraceuticals, resins and industrial products, excelled in 2020 as the top performing franchise. This is the fourth consecutive year that SearchPath of Chicago has outperformed more than 50 franchises globally. The figures used to establish the “top” franchise included total billings and cash-in for 2020.
“We couldn’t be prouder of earning top accolades across the SearchPath footprint for the fourth straight year,” commented Chris Hillman, President, SearchPath of Chicago, Inc. “We’ve spent our careers mastering our skills and our outcomes prove time and time again that we’re masters of our craft – stay tuned because we plan to continue to break records in 2021.”
SearchPath of Chicago has perfected the executive search process by leveraging talented recruiters that understand their industry and have built meaningful relationships to successfully place high-performing candidates. Through the streamlined processes, the company has established itself as a leading Executive Search partner for the greater Chicago area.
Recruiting Industry News & Articles
Helpful Tips to Prevail at Your Next Virtual Job Interview
Helpful Tips to Prevail at Your Next Virtual Job Interview
By Chris Hillman, Recruiting Professional
SearchPath of Chicago, Inc.
searchpathofchicago.com
If you have a video job interview scheduled, these helpful tips will help you prepare and ensure you stand out against the competition.
Test the Technology Ahead of Time
Don’t make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to test your equipment and Internet connection, and anything else that could cause problems. Learn about the interviewing platform (e.g., Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, etc.). If you are not familiar with the technology, do a test run to make sure you can navigate the platform and project confidence with it.
Practice Makes Perfect
Videotape yourself using the same platform. Be aware that making a lot of hand movements, speaking too fast, not pausing, and not looking directly at the camera should be avoided. Play it back, make notes for improvement, and keep practicing until you feel comfortable and confident.
Set the Stage
Check out your camera’s current view to ensure what shows up on the screen won’t be a distraction. The background of your space should project a professional environment. Remove any clutter and keep the background scene simple. There should be sufficient lighting with no shadows on your face.
Same Conventions as an In-person Interview
Follow the same conventions as you would for an in-person interview:
- Be professionally dressed
- Be on time
- Jot down some notes on the points you want to touch on during the interview (make the interviewer aware of these notes, so they know what you are looking at)
- Make eye contact (with the camera, not the screen), even while you are taking notes
- At the end of the interview, have a closing statement prepared regarding the follow-up time frame and next steps
Solid Performance
Solid interviewing skills will set you apart, especially in a saturated job market. Learn as much as you can about the company ahead of time. Anticipate what questions may be asked during the interview and prepare some well-thought-out answers. Don’t forget to prepare some questions that will help you learn more about the company and demonstrate your communication skills. Well-rounded knowledge of the company and being thoroughly prepared will build your confidence and provide a solid foundation for your answers during the interview.
Make sure to be clear about what you are passionate about, and then find a way to connect it with the company’s core values or goals. Speak directly into the camera and focus on what you say and especially how you say it. Project enthusiasm, and don’t forget to smile into the camera, which is the same as making eye contact. A positive attitude will leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. Remember, the goal is to get a second interview and ultimately persuade the company to invest in you.
For additional information, please email Chris Hillman or call (815) 261-4403 x 100
Good, Better & Best: Talent Strategy
Good, Better & Best: Talent Strategy
By Chris Hillman, Recruiting Professional
SearchPath of Chicago, Inc.
searchpathofchicago.com
Finding people is easy. Finding the right people, that can prove to be a challenge. With a job market this hot, it’s imperative to pick the right strategy for talent acquisition so that you’re setup for success. Below, we’ll outline good, better and best strategies so that you can determine what’s best for your organization.
Good: Professional Networking Sites
There are many professional networking sites that are a usual tool in finding and networking with both active and passive candidates. It’s easy to setup and sell yourself in the best professional way. Sites like LinkedIn have also made it extremely easy for people to apply to any job with just one click of the ‘Easy Apply’ button. Great for candidates but could be a nightmare for recruiters who have to scour through hundreds of profiles where only a small percentage are actually qualified for the position.
This strategy enables many active candidates to apply for open positions without any proactive activity. This leaves you looking for a needle in a haystack and hoping for the best.
Better: Recruiting Firms
Recruiting firms are a better option – they have staff who can dedicate time to sourcing and vetting candidates prior to having their resume come across your desk. However, firms are tasked and incentivized with filling positions quickly. They rely on the job requisition to understand the role and then move forward quickly to ensure they fill the role prior to any other recruiting firm that you may have given the requisition to as well.
This strategy gives you time back (and reduces your headache) but also sacrifices quality of placement since firms aren’t invested in your company’s overall success, but instead, a single position.
Best: Retained Executive Search Firms
This is the best option because retained partners are invested in your company – they take the time to understand your goals and culture to ensure that they find not only a fit but the best fit. They understand the team in place and what profile would be able to complement the team and help advance the depth of the team while being about to executive on core job responsibilities. Retained partners are also well versed in not only vetting applicants but also proactively sourcing candidates that are already employed and helping to sell your company and culture to those non-active candidates.
This strategy allows you the ability to partner with professionals who are vested in your goals and desired outcomes to bring on the right talent.
For additional information, please email Chris Hillman or call (815) 261-4403 x 100
