Spotlight on staffing: Employment agencies provide paycheck and open doors
Spotlight on staffing: Employment agencies provide paycheck and open doors
In a challenging job market it’s a good idea to keep your options open. Staffing firms may not be the first place you look for work, but they shouldn’t be the last either. Whether you need temporary work to make ends meet or are looking for a bridge to permanent employment, staffing firms offer an opportunity to get back into the job market — and back on your feet.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics and the American Staffing Association, North Carolina staffing firms employed about 80,000 temporary and contract employees per day last year.
With more than 1,000 throughout the state, staffing firms are hard to miss, and contrary to popular perception, they are not all the same. Some firms are destinations for skilled laborers, while other firms recruit managers or executives to place in permanent slots at major corporations. Others focus on the medical field.
The key is to investigate different firms to find out which ones best suit your current needs and will best help you toward your employment goals.
To conclude this year’s National Staffing Week, Triad Careers gives you just a taste of three distinctly different staffing firms in the Triad:
Name of company: Express Employment Professionals
Address: 7204-D W. Friendly Ave.
Phone: 282-7901
Established in: 1990
Career field focus: Accounting/finance, information technology, engineering; skilled trade, clerical, light industrial
Common jobs filled: Executive assistant, administrative assistant, customer service representative, controller, bookkeeper, staff accountant, fork lift operator, welder, electrician, plumber, sheet metal mechanic
Job seeker experience levels: Two to 30 years of experience in target industryEmployment arrangement: Full time, part time, contract, temporary and temporary-to-hireTraining and assessments offered: Training and behavioral/skills assessments provided Benefits offered: Medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, holiday and vacation pay
What makes your firm stand out? We seek to work with companies that have demonstrated a positive work environment for its employees. With a full suite of benefits, combined with clients that are willing to pay competitive wages, Express offers the best value in the industry.
What is a good starting point for job seekers?
Posting your resume online is a great way to get started.
How do interviews with your employment agency differ from interviews directly with an employer?
Our interview process should be very similar to any quality employer that understands a professional interview process. People that apply through Express should treat the interview process the same, as though they were applying directly to any other employer — including how they dress.
What is the appropriate process for following up about a position?
A follow-up phone call or e-mail is appropriate.
What special services does your staffing firm provide for those who are exploring a mid-career change?Express offers a full compliment of testing programs to measure the skills and aptitude of the candidate. Since our staffing consultants place hundreds of people in new jobs every month, they can be a valuable resource to people who are looking to make a career change.
— Submitted by Larry Diana, president
Name of company: Southern Technical Recruiters
Address: 2640 Willard Dairy Road, High Point
Phone: 841-7999
Established in: 1997
Career field focus: Engineering, manufacturing, select skilled trades, general management, technical sales/marketing, logistics
Experience levels: 2 to 25 years
Employment arrangement: Permanent-direct
Training and assessments offered: Résumé writing, interview training, customized employment letters
What makes your firm stand out? The partnership developed between the candidate and client. We work in finding a technical match that both are seeking in filling the open position.
What is a good starting point for job seekers?
Submit résumés in a Microsoft Word document via e-mail. The e-mail should also contain salary information and any desired geographic location. If responding to a specific job, include the reference job identification number. Also include a cover letter addressing additional significant points of information not included in the résumé.
How do interviews with your employment agency differ from interviews directly with an employer?
We attempt to meet all local candidates for any position we have open. They should come dressed as they would in any interview, which helps determine their level of professionalism. Depending on the job, there could be up to three interviews with different counselors, all coming from different points of view.
What is the appropriate process for following up about a position?
Telephone the appropriate counselor for points of interest, especially after the interview. Send a thank-you letter following an interview with one of our client companies. Sometimes failing to send a thank-you letter is reason for not receiving a job offer. Remember that thank-you letters indicate the candidate’s interest level in the position offered.
What special services does your staffing firm provide for those who are exploring a mid-career change?
We can help in creating a résumé with a customized market approach to where that person can target opportunities on their own or through us.
— Submitted by Bill Roberts, president/owner
Name of company: Maxim Staffing Solutions, a division of Maxim Healthcare Services
Established in: 1988
Address: 4411 W. Market St., Suite 304
Phone: 315-9646
Career field focus: Medical/allied health
Common jobs filled: Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical administrators
Experience levels: Minimum of one year experience for most positions
Employment arrangement: Full time, part time, contract and temporary
Training and assessments offered: Continuing education credits for qualified staff
Benefits offered: Medical, dental, vision and life insurance, 401K plan
What makes your firm stand out? As a member of our dynamic health care team, you will enjoy great benefits, flexible scheduling options and rewarding assignments in some of the best work environments. Our staff will match your skills, experience and schedule to find you the most compatible nursing jobs. Whether you are in search of short-term, long-term or travel nursing assignments, we can accommodate your goals and career preferences. Knowledgeable and experienced staffing consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure you have the assistance you need to get your job done.
What is a good starting point for job seekers?
Candidates can choose to contact us by e-mail or phone. We also encourage people to set up a face-to-face interview with a recruiter.
How do interviews with your employment agency differ from interviews directly with an employer?
Interviews are not much different than with any other employer. All applicants are expected to be on time and come prepared with proper documentation, including active CPR certification, recent immunization history, a résumé and identification. A member of our management team will interview each applicant and screen him or her for health care experience, training, education and aptitude.
What is the appropriate process for following up about a position?
We suggest all applicants follow up within 24 to 48 hours of an interview by phone or e-mail, or by visiting our office.
What special services does your staffing firm provide for those who are exploring a mid-career change? Being able to reach out to over 400 offices in 44 states, we are able to provide unparalleled search capabilities for employees looking to broaden their experience in different modalities and settings.
— Submitted by Tim Carlson, accounts manager
