How a Temp Staffing Agency Can Find Qualified Candidates Faster Than Doing It Yourself
17 May 2013 | No Comments | posted by Chantal Van Maren | in Staffing
Let’s take a look at the do-it-yourself process of finding temp workers for your business. First, you have to write a job post and post it to various web sites and job boards. Then you have to wait until people respond to your post. The problem is, however, that most people looking for jobs on job boards are looking for permanent jobs, not temp jobs. So your pickings may be very slim if you have pickings at all.
Next, you have to interview your candidates, and this takes time out of your busy workday. You might find someone appropriate for the temp job, but then you have to train that person. And by the time you get your worker hired into the job, it’s been several days, if not weeks, and you’ve spent a great deal of time (and money, since you couldn’t work on your own projects).
But let’s say you couldn’t find a good candidate through your job postings. This often happens with temporary jobs posted by the employer. Then you have to ask around and find out if anyone knows someone who can work for just a short period of time. Often, the only people who come to mind are students home from college or people who are currently out of work. Again, these candidates might work out well for you, but then again, they might not.
A temp staffing agency can handle this cumbersome task quickly and easily. A temp staffing agency has systems in place to find candidates the moment a client calls needing help. These people are already screened and tested and their work papers are filled out and ready to go. The temp staffing agency can even help to train them before they show up at your place of business for their work shifts.
A temp staffing agency doesn’t have to post job listings or wait for applications to roll in. They’ve already done this work ahead of time. That’s why you can call your temp staffing agency today and have a worker show up tomorrow, ready to increase productivity at your business.
So, once again, here are the ways a temp staffing agency can find qualified candidates faster than you can find them yourself:
- A temp staffing agency has already performed background checks and interviewed candidates
- A temp staffing agency has tested workers and knows which people have the appropriate skills for your job
- A temp staffing agency has a deep network of qualified workers in your area
- A temp staffing agency specializes in filling temporary positions quickly
5 Ways a Recruiting Agency Can Help With Your Job Search
15 May 2013 | No Comments | posted by Wendy Roden | in Recruitment
Many job seekers view a recruiting agency as a last resort. They think of a recruiting agency as a place to dump their resume, in the hopes of finding some temp work until they find a real job on their own. If you’ve ever thought this way about a recruiting agency, you’re missing out on a lot of services they offer.
Using a Scalpel Instead of a Hatchet
When you prepare your resume, you probably include everything that you think an employer would be interested in. However, every employer has different interests and needs. One thing they don’t need is another resume full of irrelevant information.
A recruiting agency deals with hundreds of companies, from every conceivable industry. They know exactly what employers are looking for. They can help you organize your resume, including information that is tailored to the industry, company, and specific position you’re looking for. Instead of standing out for its length, your resume will stand out for its relevance to their needs.
You Only Get One First Impression
The interview is a bad place to practice your improvisational skills. You need to be prepared, professional, and knowledgeable—not only about yourself, but also about the company and the role you’re seeking.
A recruiting agency conducts thousands of interviews a year. They are experts at finding out which candidates make the grade, and which don’t. They can arrange mock interviews for you, using the exact questions and criteria that they use to place candidates with the top businesses in the country. When it’s time for your real interview, you’ll be fully prepared to land your dream job.
How Do You Get Your Foot in a Closed Door?
You could be the perfect candidate for a position; but, if you can’t get an interview, all of your qualifications are for naught. Sending your resume doesn’t guarantee that anyone will read it. Until you sit down, face to face, with someone in charge of hiring, your odds of getting hired are pretty slim.
A recruiting agency has internal contacts who trust them to deliver high-quality candidates. Using their contacts, you can be assured that your resume will end up on a desk, instead of in a bin. Once the contacts see your resume, and how nicely it fits their needs, you have a much better chance of getting called for an interview.
When One Door Closes…
Sometimes, a dream job is just that—a dream. A recruiting agency can give you an objective overview of the positions you’re interested in. With the current economic climate, it’s possible that those “dream job” positions aren’t as promising as you think they are.
Fortunately, all is not lost. Even if your dream position is no longer tenable, or just needs to be put on hold for a while, a recruiting agency can help you evaluate your options. Using your education, training, and experience, they can help you identify other positions that you would be suited for.
Show Me the Money
Most new candidates undervalue themselves. While experienced candidates can price themselves out of the market. With economic fluctuations, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what a specific position is worth at a specific time. However, that’s something that a recruiting agency does every day. They evaluate the market, and determine what the price point is for every position. They’re in the business of filling those positions.
A recruiting agency can be a big help when you’re looking for new employment. Even if you don’t end up finding work through the agency, they can give you a ton of valuable assistance in your job search.
5 Ways a Temp Staffing Agency Can Help Increase Productivity for Special Projects
13 May 2013 | No Comments | posted by Heather Dowell | in Staffing
One of the best-kept business secrets is using a temp staffing agency to help with special projects. Special projects can do wonders for businesses. Sponsoring booths at trade shows, hosting charity events, expanding your business into new avenues, and reorganizing your office are all projects that can give your business a boost but are difficult to pull off without extra help. A temp staffing agency can supply that extra help, giving you the opportunity to pursue special projects without taxing your regular work force.
Take a look at the following five ways a temp staffing agency can help increase productivity for special projects.
1. Fresh Enthusiasm.
If your current employees have lost their enthusiasm for a project, bringing in some temp workers can give the project new life. New perspectives and ideas can rejuvenate the entire team, giving your project the boost it needs. Also, your regular employees may be tired of working on their regular jobs as well as the special project. By supplying them with extra help from a temp staffing agency, you will increase your regular employees’ productivity in addition to adding more productivity through your temp workers.
2. Immediate Help.
Special projects don’t always come when you’ve had time to prepare for them. Sometimes, opportunities present themselves that could give your company a boost–if you can pull them off in a short period of time. If you find yourself in this situation, go ahead and say “yes” to the project, knowing that a temp staffing agency can supply you with able, qualified workers to help you achieve your goals. A temp staffing agency can find workers for you immediately and send them to you ready to work and make your special project a success.
3. Flexibility.
Maybe your special project requires evening or weekend work, and your current employees don’t have the flexibility to cover all the hours required. A temp worker who prefers evenings and weekends may be the solution to your problem. If possible, have your temp workers help out with the project during regular work hours to get trained and familiar with your systems. Then, enjoy the scheduling flexibility available to you with the addition of temp workers.
4. Specialized Skills.
When your company takes on special projects, you may need the help of people with specialized skills that no one in your workforce currently has. A temp staffing agency can find a person with the skills you need who can help you for as long (or as short) as you need the person. A good temp staffing agency will test workers to learn about their abilities, so you can rest assured that the temp can handle the assignment.
5. Try On a New Size.
Sometimes, special projects can lead to a new arm of your business. For example, an interior design company may currently work with only residential customers, but a local hotel asks if the company is interested in working on one of their commercial projects. The owner of the interior design company is excited about the possibility of expanding into commercial projects but doesn’t know if the time is right for expansion. By using temporary workers, this owner could try out the new, larger size and see if the company is ready. If not, the temporary workers are just that: temporary. If it works out, however, nothing is lost, and the expansion can be pursued without hesitation.
The Top 8 Ways Employers Can Retain the Best Talent
10 May 2013 | No Comments | posted by Neil Kouba | in Recruitment
Getting top talent into your work force is only the first step. Once you get the best, you have to keep them. Competition for top-tier workers is fierce. Businesses, recruiters, and headhunters will be trying to make your best workers into their best workers. Aside from the wasted time and effort of hiring them, any employees who leave will also take the training and experience you’ve provided with them to the new company. You lose time, money, talent, and knowledge—all of which then benefits your competitors. Like finding top talent, retaining top talent also requires a multifaceted approach.
Recognition and Reward
Never underestimate the importance of encouragement and positive feedback. No employee wants to feel like an anonymous cog in the machine. When your employees perform well, don’t hesitate to single them out for special recognition. Small rewards for top performers will give them the recognition they crave, without costing you a fortune.
Environment
For talented individuals to perform their best, they need an environment that encourages and motivates them. If they’re surrounded by negative or underperforming employees, their own performance will suffer. If your top talent isn’t performing up to expectations, examine the environment you’ve placed them in before assuming that the problem is with them.
Salary
This is about more than just an hourly wage. Make sure that the compensation you offer is tailored to the needs of your top performers. Things like student-loan repayment or club memberships can go a long way toward making an employee feel appreciated. As for payment, it’s important to keep up with what your competitors are paying. No matter what perks you offer, if the salary gap between you and other businesses gets too large, people will jump ship.
Professional Growth
Top performers didn’t get that way by doing the same thing every day. They sought out and overcame new challenges, improving their overall skillset along the way. As an employer, you need to give your top talent plenty of opportunity to continue that growth. Not only will they impress you, they’ll be less likely to get bored and start looking for a change.
Engagement
Your best workers want to feel like they’re able to contribute to all parts of a project. The more involved in a project they are, the more enthusiastic they’ll be. An employee who is enthusiastic about their job is less likely to look for another job. Involve your top talent in as many levels of the project as possible.
Communication
This one shows up in almost every list for a reason. Without open lines of communication, your top talent will feel isolated, alienated, and cut off. Keep them in the loop about current and upcoming projects. Give them positive feedback and, when necessary, constructive criticism. Encourage their input, or they’ll be giving it to another employer.
Training
Give your employees the opportunity to improve their existing skills and learn new skills. Most top-tier employees want to learn new things, and like having a wide variety of experiences. Ongoing training and continuing education gives them that opportunity. If they feel like they’re getting more out of the job than just a paycheck, they’re more likely to stick around.
Respect
Respecting your employees is about more than just being polite to them. You have to understand their needs, understand your workplace, and understand how to make those two things fit together. A quality staffing agency can help you along the way. They can help you put together customized employment contracts, workplace training programs, research salary and benefit trends, and help you find the top talent you’ve been looking for.
The Top 7 Ways Employers Can Attract the Best Talent
8 May 2013 | No Comments | posted by Neil Kouba | in Recruitment
Top talent is easy to find, but not always easy to hold on to. Getting top talent into your workforce is about a lot more than just offering higher pay than your competitors. Businesses are working hard to develop strategies focused on retaining the most talented candidates. If you don’t have a hiring strategy for these top-tier candidates, you could be falling behind the competition. In today’s hiring world, you need a multifaceted approach to win over these heavily recruited employees.
Know What You Want
Top candidates want to know exactly what you’re looking for. Vague job descriptions, or descriptions that vary from one interviewer to the next, will turn them off. It makes you look indecisive and uncertain—two things nobody wants in an employer. Develop a comprehensive job description for the role you want to fill before looking for candidates to fill it.
Take a Look Around
Walk through your business. Look at the physical environment, the other workers, even the vendors. Would you want to spend 40 or more hours a week in your business? Keep in mind that they will have multiple offers. Maintaining a pleasant work environment will help potential hires feel comfortable about the time they’ll be spending there.
Getting to Know You
Hiring is more personal than it used to be. When you’ve identified the best talent, spend some time getting to know them. Through interviews, reference checks, and social media, you can learn about their individual interests. When you approach them with a customized compensation package that fits their personal needs, they’ll be impressed.
An Offer They Can’t Refuse
Once you’ve gotten to know the candidate, you can entice them with a package tailored to their lifestyle. Are they a new parent? You could offer them subsidized daycare. Are they into fitness? Include a gym membership in their compensation package. The key is not to get hung up on the monetary value of what you’re offering. You already know that you’re going to have to pay them well to retain them. The key is to also offer them something personal that makes them feel like they’re already a part of the team.
Utilize Their Potential
Your top talent should be your top contributors. Make sure that your best candidates know they won’t be stuck in menial, repetitive tasks. They want to work in a place where their knowledge and skills will be used. They also want to have their knowledge and skills challenged, so they can become even better talent. If you’re searching for the best talent, make sure you have a position that requires the best talent.
Moving on Up
Even the most challenging role will become tedious if there’s no room for advancement. The best applicants want a role with growing responsibilities and new challenges. Make sure you offer them a way to grow in to a more demanding position.
Value and Respect
Top candidates won’t sign on with a company that doesn’t respect and value their contributions. The best talent will work harder, and produce more, than many of your other workers. Let them know that this will be appreciated. Nobody wants to work 80-hour weeks landing the big contract, just to have the boss give them grief when they need an afternoon off for a dentist’s appointment.
Creating a Strategy
With this kind of multifaceted approach, it’s best to work with experts who have done it all before. A quality staffing agency can help you with every aspect of the hiring process. With their help, you can develop a hiring strategy that is sure to attract the best talent.
