Guide for Customers
Hiring Skilled Professionals
Automate America connects you with skilled professionals in every trade — PLC programmers, robot technicians, controls engineers, electricians, maintenance technicians and more — for industrial, commercial and residential work, remote, onsite or hybrid. Whether you need someone for a quick project or a long-term engagement, Automate America helps you find, hire, and manage them. You pick the best professional, not the cheapest.
Getting Started
Step 1: Create Your Account
- Visit automateamerica.com
- Click Sign Up
- Enter your name, email, phone number and a password
- Enter the six-digit code we send you — there is one account type for everyone, so there is nothing to choose
Step 2: Complete Your Company Profile
A complete company profile attracts better candidates:
- Company name — Your legal business name
- Logo — Professional company logo
- Industry — Manufacturing sector (automotive, food & beverage, etc.)
- Location — Headquarters address
- Description — What your company does, types of projects
- Contact info — Primary contact for hiring
Pro Tip
Companies with complete profiles and logos receive more applications from qualified professionals. A good description helps candidates understand if they're a fit.
Posting Work
How to Post a Contract
- Click the [+] button in the Feed
- Select Post Contract
- Fill in the contract details:
- Title — Clear job title (e.g., "Fanuc Robot Programmer")
- Description — Project details, responsibilities, requirements
- Skills required — Specific manufacturers and software
- Location — Work site address or "Remote"
- Duration — Expected contract length
- Rate — The hourly rate you will pay; professionals see it and apply at that rate
- Choose contract type (Standard or White Glove)
- Review and publish
Free to Post
Posting contracts is FREE. Optional boosting ($50/week) increases visibility in search results and attracts more applicants faster.
Writing Effective Job Posts
Get more qualified applicants with these tips:
- Be specific about skills — "Fanuc R-30iB" is better than just "Robot programming"
- Include project details — What will they be working on?
- Set realistic rates — Research market rates for the skills you need
- Mention travel requirements — Will they need to relocate or travel?
- State urgency — If you need someone quickly, say so
Choosing a Contract Type
Standard Contracts
"The Basics for Individuals and Organizations"
| You manage | Direct communication and relationship with professional |
| You handle | Payments to professional directly (or through your payroll) |
| Fees | None — free to post, and no Automate America fee when you hire |
| Best for | Experienced customers who want direct control |
White Glove Contracts
"For Customers Who Want Automate America to Bill Them and Pay the Professionals"
| We provide | Dedicated Account Manager for full support |
| We handle | Billing you directly and paying professionals |
| Includes | Candidate screening, vetting, and interview coordination |
| Privacy | Anonymous posting (your company name is not shown on the public listing) |
| Best for | New customers or those wanting hands-off management |
Finding Professionals
Method 1: Post and Receive Applications
The most common approach:
- Post your contract with detailed requirements
- Qualified professionals apply to your posting
- Review applications in your Dashboard
- Message promising candidates
- Extend offers to your selections
Method 2: Browse Professional Profiles
Proactively search for candidates:
- Browse the Feed for professional profiles
- Use filters: skills, location, rate, availability
- Click profiles to view full details
- Message professionals who match your needs
- Invite them to apply to your contract
Reviewing Applications
For each applicant, consider:
- Skills match — Do they have the specific expertise you need?
- Experience level — Years of relevant work history
- Location/Travel — Can they work at your site?
- Rate — Every applicant applies at the rate on your contract, so you pick the best professional, not the cheapest
- Availability — Can they start when you need them?
- Reviews — What do past customers say?
The Hiring Process
Application Stages
| Stage | Your Action |
|---|---|
| Submitted | Review the application |
| Under Review | Evaluate and compare candidates |
| Shortlisted | Message or interview top candidates |
| Offer Extended | Send formal offer with terms |
| Accepted | Sign contracts and onboard |
Making an Offer
When you find the right person:
- Click Extend Offer on their application
- Confirm the terms:
- Hourly rate
- Start and end dates
- Per diem and travel (if applicable)
- Special requirements
- Send the offer
- Wait for them to accept or decline (there is no bidding and no negotiating: the rate on the contract is the rate)
- Once accepted, both parties sign documents
Managing Contractors
During the Contract
- Approve timesheets — Review and approve weekly within 1-3 days
- Communicate — Use the messaging system for work discussions
- Provide feedback — Let them know how they're doing
- Approve expenses — Review receipts and approve legitimate costs
Timesheet Approval
- Go to Dashboard → Timesheets
- Review submitted hours and notes
- Click Approve or Request Changes
- Approved timesheets generate invoices automatically
Important
Timely timesheet approval ensures professionals get paid on schedule. Delayed approvals can affect contractor satisfaction and your reputation on the platform.
Payments
White Glove Payment Flow
- Professional submits timesheet
- You approve the timesheet
- Automate America invoices you
- You pay Automate America
- We pay the professional
Standard Payment Flow
- Professional submits timesheet
- You approve the timesheet
- You pay the professional directly
How You Pay Automate America
- White Glove — Invoiced on your account terms
- Everything else (a boost, for example) — Paid by card through Stripe; our servers never see your card number
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the [+] button in the Feed, select "Post Contract," fill in the details (title, skills required, location, duration, rate), choose contract type (Standard or White Glove), and publish. Posts are free — boosting for extra visibility costs $50/week.
Standard: You manage the relationship directly, and Automate America charges you nothing — free to post and free when you hire. White Glove: Automate America handles billing, payments, and provides full support with a dedicated Account Manager. Choose White Glove for hands-off management or if you're new to hiring contractors.
Post a detailed contract with specific skill requirements, or browse professional profiles in the directory. Use filters for skills (Fanuc, Allen-Bradley, etc.), location, rate range, and availability. Review profiles, experience, and ratings before reaching out.
It depends on the skills and the location. Common skills often draw applications quickly; specialized skills or remote locations can take longer. Boosting your posting increases visibility.
Yes! Posting is completely free. You only pay if you choose to boost your listing ($50/week) for increased visibility. Standard contracts stay free — there is no Automate America fee when you hire. White Glove contracts add no fee either: you pay the rate you enter, and nothing is added on top.
For White Glove: we invoice you on your account terms and pay the professionals. For Standard: you pay professionals directly (or through your payroll). Anything Automate America charges outside White Glove, such as a boost, is paid by card through Stripe.
Review your SSA for termination terms (usually 2 weeks notice). Contact your Account Manager (White Glove) or the professional directly (Standard) to discuss issues. For serious concerns, contact support immediately.
Before you hire, read the Verified stories written by the people a professional has worked with here — proof from the people who were there. The other person confirms it, adds their side, or declines it privately. A story both people confirm is Verified. A Verified story shows on both people's profiles, where anyone can read it. Names in stories are first names only.How Connection Stories work
Need help hiring?
Contact Sales