Pros
-Willing to train -Benefits, 401k and ample time-off options (for full-time only) -A job in this economy
Cons
This is the hospitality industry so the Cons are pretty well known: Too many hours, too few hours in the off season, unconventional hours (very early, very late) and no set days off. The hospitality industry is a 24/7 machine and you need to acclimate yourself to that. There is zero work/life balance and absolutely no flexibility when scheduling. Very few career opportunities. If you want to move up you will have to relocate. If you're a technician that is in a smaller region be prepared to travel to other properties to fill in and service events elsewhere. Labor sharing is huge and you are expected to smile and accept hours in other places. Having your own vehicle is unspoken but required. PSAV pushes off-property business to make more money without paying commissions to the hotel so you will also have to prepare yourself for working in other places, or traveling longer distances. If you're a Director be prepared to franchise your location. That's how PSAV treats its locations in hotels, you are an entrepreneur who is running his own business here. They do not provide anything to assist you in doing your job, you'll be reimbursed for any costs you incur but you have to do everything yourself. Screen skirt dirty? Take it home to wash it or get it dry cleaned. A new operating system has been released? Better take time to learn on it on your own. They do not proactively help you in any way. My biggest complaint with PSAV is Corporate. This is quite possibly worst-run corporate machine I've ever come across. They are based in Schaumburg, IL so all communication is via email and faceless. HR is terrible, they ignore emails since they can hide behind not being in your region and they also do little to nothing on a comfortable M-F 9-5 schedule. They are out of touch and serve the bottom line and do nothing for the employees. However if they should need something from you, expect to get hounded until they get what they need. HR needs completely excised from Schaumburg and put into the regions they service. Other departments in Schaumburg are not much better, faceless people who have meetings to come up with more work for the Directors who in addition have to run an AV Department full-time. I don't think anyone at Corporate knows what exactly happens in its field locations, they should be sent out to the field operations so they get an idea of how PSAV makes its money. Lastly is the equipment. PSAV puts on a fancy show, they brag about being #1 in Technology and up to date but it's a front and the cutting edge technology they use is purely for the larger events that garner attention to keep up the front. They don't invest in any new equipment at their hotel locations, projectors, screens are years old. Even if your revenues are up there is no investing. Everything goes to the bottom line or the pockets of others. When you need something special be prepared to subrent from another vendor then get admonished by the higher-ups for sub-renting.
