 If you get a job through a staffing firm, then there’s a good chance you’ll create an online account with that firm and perhaps even apply for a specific position. Almost all staffing agencies have an online presence, and they must also have the capability to allow you to apply for jobs on their website.
When you create an online account and/or apply for a position, a staffing specialist should give you a call, typically one (1) to three (3) business days following your submission. If you don’t receive a call in a timely fashion, do not despair. If you didn’t receive a confirmation notice in your email inbox, then your resume might not have been received. It’s okay to call the firm and ask if they received it. Staffing specialists are trained professionals who are knowledgeable about the local job market and also about the open positions that are available through their agency. Consequently, it is in your best interests to treat this phone call in a serious, thoroughly diligent manner. Two things will happen during this phone call: #1—The staffing specialist will conduct a short interview. This will be similar to any other phone interview. The staffing specialist will ask general questions about your current employment situation, jobs in which you might be interested, and perhaps even your career goals. Of course, honesty is of the utmost importance. #2—The staffing specialist will discuss available assignments. If you applied for one or more specific assignments online, then the specialist will address those positions first. However, they might also discuss other positions for which you did not apply, especially if they believe you might be a fit for those positions. As we mentioned previously, you should strike a professional chord at all times when working with a staffing specialist. They have the knowledge and experience to help you, and if you work well with them, they can help you. That means the following: Communication—The more information the specialist has, the better equipped they will be to help you. Withholding information is rarely a winning strategy. Honesty—Be honest about everything, including about whether or not you’re working with multiple agencies. Staffing specialists are not motivated to work with individuals who have proven to be dishonest. Proactive and positive attitude—However, staffing specialists are motivated to work with individuals who exhibit this quality. Even if you do not find a position immediately, don’t get discouraged. Working well with a staffing specialist can be your key to finding a great job. As with all aspects of your job search, preparation is essential, so be prepared to talk with a staffing specialist before you apply online and before they call you. Just like job seekers must do their homework when they’re looking for a staffing firm to use, so should companies when they have positions they need to fill.
Not all staffing firms are alike, and you should find one that fits your specific needs. That means asking some questions at the outset of the process to determine those needs and also create a framework for conducting your search:
You’re looking for a staffing agency that provides the most value, not necessarily the one that’s the cheapest. You want an agency that provides the most value because long-term value always overshadows short-term savings. That value is exemplified in two main ways:
The staffing specialists within the agency should be required to participate in ongoing education. The world of employment is always changing, and as a result, these specialists need to be current regarding rules, regulations, and standard procedures. These specialists should serve as a resource for your organization, able to answer any and all questions regarding what’s happening within the industry. So while conducting your search for a staffing firm, make value a top priority and make sure that whichever agency you choose, it provides the most value possible for your organization. In a previous blog post, we presented “Questions to Ask Before Working with a Staffing Firm.” If you’re still “on the fence” about using a staffing firm, we’re back with another post that might fully convince you to do so.
As we mentioned in that previous post, one of the questions we posed was “What value does the firm offer?” Value is the bottom line, and the fact of the matter is that value is the main reason a job seeker would use a staffing firm to help them find a position. Let’s explore that value a bit more in depth. Below are five things that a staffing firm can do for a job seeker . . . namely YOU: They already have relationships with employers. Staffing firms work with companies all the time to meet their hiring needs. Consequently, not only do they have job openings, but their managers also know the tendencies and preferences of the companies that have the openings. Armed with this information, they could provide you with important tips that might lead to an employment opportunity that excites you. They know the job market. A staffing firm’s knowledge doesn’t stop with companies, though. If the firm has been around long enough (another question we posed in our previous blog post), then its officials will be experienced enough to help you navigate the “ins and outs” of what can sometimes be a very tricky job market. When you align yourself with a staffing firm, you put that experience to work for you and your job search. They can help with resume and interviewing skills. Okay, this is the nitty-gritty of your search. You want to land a job. The staffing firm wants you to land a job. As such, its employees will help you to polish whichever aspect of your search needs polished. Even if you don’t get a particular job, you’ll be better positioned for the next opportunity that comes along. They have access to many different types of jobs. Staffing firms have more than just temp jobs. Sometimes they have temp-to-hire jobs, and they even have full-time positions available from time to time. Remember, too, that every temp job can turn into a full-time position. With a temp job, you have the opportunity to impress your employer and convince them to keep you around for the long haul. They can find more than one job for you. Even if a job is temporary, a staffing firm can find another suitable position for you. In fact, if they’ve placed you once, they’ll be more likely to place you again, especially if the first job was a positive experience for everybody involved. Whereas the first job was temp, the next job might be temp-to-hire. When you increase your options, you increase your opportunities. Are you ready to work with a staffing firm? If so, Time Staffing can help you! Click here to find out more about Time Staffing’s services for job seekers. And if you’re currently looking for a new job, don’t forget to look through our jobs and apply for one online today! Sometimes, job seekers make the job seeking process more difficult than it has to be.
They do this and that and the other thing, but then they overlook something simple and that oversight costs them. Specifically, it costs them an employment opportunity. Looking for a job can be an exciting time in a person’s life, not to mention a stressful time. As such, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation and the details associated with it. When that happens, things “slip through the cracks,” things that can negatively impact your job search and by extension, your career. Below are four quick (and easy) tips for today’s job seeker: #1—Lock down your Facebook account. Will hiring managers be checking out your Facebook account? Yes, they will. That’s why it’s in your best interest to do two things. First, make sure that your account is not a public account. (Access your account settings to make it private.) Second, make sure that you haven’t posted anything that will cast you in a negative light. After all, you might be friends with somebody who’s friends with somebody who’s friends with the hiring manager. It’s happened before. #2—Spruce up your LinkedIn profile. Job seekers should spend as much time on their LinkedIn profile as they do on their resume, if not more. That’s because hiring managers will visit your profile there, as well. Whereas on Facebook, you’re simply trying not to embarrass yourself, on LinkedIn, you’re attempting to impress and “Wow!” your visitors. We’ve published blog posts previously about branding yourself well on LinkedIn, including here and here. #3—Check your voicemail (and respond to messages). Who even uses voicemail these days? Hiring managers, that’s who! Who even returns voicemail messages these days? Job seekers do . . . if they want to get hired, that is. We live in a “texting age,” to be sure, but hiring managers are not going to text you. And checking your voicemail is just the first step. The second (and more important) step is responding to the message and calling the person back. If a hiring manager has to call you three times to get in touch with you, then they’re probably not going to be cheery. #4—Refresh your resume and cover letter. Yes, you’ve spent a great deal of time updating your LinkedIn profile, as well you should. However, don’t do that as the expense of your resume. If you update your profile with new information, then your resume should be updated with the same information. In addition, don’t send out the same cover letter for every position. Instead, customize your cover letter based upon the particular position for which you’re applying. Are you currently in the midst of a job search? Have you covered the four tips listed above? |
