Our experience and track record is what sets us apart:

• Twenty years experience in direct marketing recruiting, and only direct marketing recruiting  (multi-channel).  We know where to find the talent you need and how to attract them to your opportunity.
• Described by the Direct Marketing Association as "the expert in direct marketing hiring practices, and a leader in direct marketing executive search."  We were the only search firm selected by the DMA to provide exclusive, expert analysis for the 2009 Direct Marketing Employment Outlook Report, available for sale at the DMA Bookstore.  We understand the market for direct marketing talent.
• Exclusive analysis for EM+C magazine's bi-monthly survey of employment trends in ecommerce and emarketing.  We know internet marketing.
• Since 2000, Director of Executive Search for the Database Marketing Institute, founded by email and database marketing expert and author Arthur Middleton Hughes.  We know database marketing and analytics.
• Contributing Writer for DIRECT magazine.
• Clients include 28 companies among the Fortune 100, plus leading direct marketing agencies and service providers across all major industry sectors.   
• A 90% one-year "sticking rate" for placed candidates.  
• High rate of multiple searches per client.  Our  clients come back to us again and again.
• Extraordinarily high direct marketing industry visibility (check our Press coverage page).   This gives your search almost unequalled credibility.
• An informative blog on best practices in direct marketing recruiting and retention strategies. We're a recognized thought leader in direct marketing executive search (You can subscribe to our monthly blog updates by clicking on the "Subscribe" button in the upper left hand corner of the blog).  
• A highly defined, time-tested and proven 12-step direct marketing recruiting process that delivers results.   

For the past 19 years, our reputation has been earned by providing leading companies top performing direct marketing talent, under the most demanding deadlines, who meet and exceed expectations. A sought after speaker and viewed as a leading authority on issues related to direct marketing recruiting and talent management, Jerry Bernhart's articles, features and interviews appear frequently in all leading offline and online direct marketing trade publications and newsletters including DIRECT, DM News, Multichannel Merchant, Chief Marketer, Target Marketing, Catalog Success, Marketing Sherpa, BtoB, EM + C, DMA- 3D and the American Marketing Association. See our Press and Articles pages for complete listings and downloadable articles and interviews.

In 2005, Jerry Bernhart was featured on the cover of Target Marketing Magazine about the trends shaping the way direct marketing, and direct marketing recruiters, do business.

Hundreds of prominent direct marketing companies, including end-users, agencies and service providers, participate in the Bernhart Associates Direct Marketing Employment Survey. Since 2001, it has been the most widely followed and quoted employment survey in the direct marketing industry and is now conducted in partnership with the Direct Marketing Association.  We invite all employers to participate.  Simply opt-in at the top of this page.  You'll find results of our latest quarterly survey on the Press page. Past data can be found in the DMA's Statistical Fact Book.

On August 13, Jerry will be speaking at a joint meeting of  the Florida Direct Marketing Association, Florida American Marketing Association and South Florida Interactive Marketing Association in Boca Raton, and will be appearing at DMA 09 in San Diego Oct 17-21.

Be sure to visit our profile on Twitter for the latest career opportunities. 

You can also visit our own Direct Marketing Employment Social Network where you might find information on direct marketing job opportunities and share job opportunities with others.

Bernhart Associates can help you fill your talent pool faster and more effectively by designing comprehensive direct marketing talent acquisition and retention strategies that draw on best practices in direct marketing recruitment and talent management.

Ask about our Job Coaching program for all levels of direct marketers in all job functions.

For your direct and database marketing needs, Bernhart Associates recommends DaystarWheaton Group, which specializes in database construction and hosting, data management, data mining and consulting.

Our Process as Direct Marketing Recruiters
Bernhart Associates is a "boutique" executive search/direct marketing recruiter firm. We work with the most exciting and promising small and mid-cap companies that we believe have the ability to attract top talent. Bernhart Associates has developed a comprehensive direct marketing recruitment and selection process that has resulted in the successful placement of more than 400 direct marketing professionals since 1989. This unique and highly effective process truly sets us apart by putting your needs squarely in focus, and includes 12 steps that begin with a thorough understanding of the position you need filled and an in-depth cultural assessment. It is estimated that two-thirds of all hires in direct marketing that don't succeed fail because of the wrong cultural fit. Jerry Bernhart, one of the nation's most recognized direct marketing recruiters, has written many articles and delivered presentations on the key challenge of hiring for cultural fit. He also has the experience and knowledge to uncover the critical factors that are required to help you ensure a successful long-term hire. We develop an intimate understanding of your organization and determine exactly how your hire will affect the department and the company overall in achieving mission-critical goals. Bottom line:  We supply top performers who possess the skills, the experience, the track record and the right chemistry for success with a 90% "sticking" rate based on expected longevity. Because of our extensive direct marketing recruiting experience and high industry visibility, our resources are wide and deep. Some might say second to none among direct marketing recruiters.

How We Source Candidates as Direct Marketing Recruiters
We do not delegate the all-important tasks of recruiting, interviewing and negotiating to research associates or junior staffers. Jerry Bernhart personally makes each and every contact throughout the entire direct marketing recruiting process, leveraging his extensive experience and nationwide contact network as a leading direct marketing recruiter to locate, evaluate and hire top performers. Because we accept a limited number of searches, we are not hamstrung by "off-limits" boundaries. Our candidate pool is practically unlimited. In most instances, we can have qualified candidates on your desk within just two weeks.

Our Philosophy as Direct Marketing Recruiters
We highly value our client relationships. We immediately notify you when we surface extraordinary talent, we offer you guarantees on every search and extended terms for companies in a pinch. We believe direct marketing recruiting is an ever-changing process, requiring different methodologies and approaches as market conditions dictate, so we regularly attend direct marketing recruiter seminars and conferences to stay on top of the latest trends in direct marketing recruiting, search and placement. Jerry Bernhart has given roundtable sessions on negotiation skills at national direct marketing conferences, so you'll know that your search is in the hands of a highly skilled negotiator. Finally, we represent you as if we were employed with you ourselves. We become your business partner.

A proud member of many regional and national direct marketing associations,
Minnesota Association of Personnel Services, Database Marketing Institute
and Advisory Board of Data University.