It’s no secret that the job market in Northeast Ohio has been slow to emerge from the Great Recession. Yet for many in the ranks of the unemployed, they have found hope by enlisting the services of tempo-rary staffi ng agencies to open doors to new opportunities. For Kevin Higgins, a marketing professional who had been out of work for more than 14 months, connecting with a temporary staff-ing agency was instru-mental in landing a contract position with a local cable and Internet service provider. “I had been spending a lot of my time apply-ing to positions on job boards, only getting a handful of interviews,” he said. “I knew I had to do something else to help move my job search along.” He was contacted by a staffi ng agency that had found his resume on In-deed.com. The recruiter felt that his professional background and skills were a strong match for their client’s need for a marketing specialist. Higgins has been work-ing since February and feels fortunate to have landed this opportunity. “The only drawback is that it’s just a three-month contract,” he said. “At least it’s giving me more recent, rel-evant experience to add to my resume.” As the economy slowly improves, there has been a surge in demand for temporary workers. With so much uncertain-ty, many employers are proceeding with caution

before adding perma-nent staff. Companies often turn to staffi ng fi rms as an extension of their own internal human re-sources departments. They help these busi-nesses narrow an ap-plicant pool down to the

cream of the crop, fi nd candidates to support a fl ux in work volume and identify workers who have highly specialized skills for more technical opportunities. Holly Mayernick, re-gional director for Infi ni-ty Resources, Inc. which has a local offi ce in Kent, further explained, “Companies look to us to unload some of their busy work. We’ll wade through applicant skill sets, background checks, referrals and drug tests so they can make better use of their internal resources.” While companies primarily hire staff-ing agencies to help fi ll jobs, temporary service providers also work on behalf of applicants seeking their assistance to match them with an employer. It works to their benefi t to under-stand both parties’ needs and helps ensure a successful placement. “We work for the can-didate as much as for our customers,” shared Jane McDole and Shar-

en Hunter of Hunter Temporary Services in Twinsburg. “We want to build strong relation-ships with both.” As a result of their efforts, Hunter and McDole said that many times when they get a request to fi ll a position

it comes from an offi ce manager or plant man-ager who fi rst started with that employer as a temp from their offi ce. Tia Ramlow, president of GreatWork! in Akron, explained that one of the most signifi cant ad-vantages for job seekers is that temporary agen-cies are actively working with companies that are hiring. “On any given day, we are working with 25 – 50 companies looking for

staff,” she said. “We are able to get a candidate’s resume into the hands of a company that they didn’t even know was hiring.” There are many other reasons that job seek-ers turn to temporary services for assistance. According to a survey conducted by the Amer-ican Staffi ng Associa-tion, a trade group in Alexandria, VA, respon-dents cited fl exibility in scheduling, variety of assignments, learning new skills and bridging to permanent employ-ment as the most impor-tant factors in pursuing contract positions. Local staffi ng profes-sionals have seen a sig-nifi cant number of con-versions from temporary to permanent positions. The “try before you buy” experience enables em-ployers to evaluate your skills and how well you fi t in with the company culture. Even if a position does not lead to permanent employment, there will likely be opportunities

to network with others. As you move from job to job, make a list of the people you meet and stay in touch. While you are with the company, do everything possible to make a good impression. Others will remember you when there’s an opening that’s compatible with your skills. Ramlow reminds job seekers that making a good impression starts the minute you step into a staffi ng agency’s offi ce for an interview. “We are evaluating you to represent us,” she said. “Be considerate, be prepared and be profes-sional.” Once a position has been secured, there are many habits that a temporary employee can follow to improve their chances at a permanent position. Hunter and McDole encourage workers to

have good attendance

and be open in your commu-

nication with the agency and the com-pany. “By demonstrat-ing a strong work ethic and professionalism in all your dealings, you’ll make a lasting impres-sion that could lead to a better opportunity,” they said. In addition to job placement, many area staffi ng fi rms offer skills assessments, training and career coaching to help job seekers identify positions where they will excel and fi nd personal satisfaction. Services differ from place to place, so it pays to do some research ahead of time. As for Higgins, he’s pleased with his experi-ence so far. “It’s just like anything else in life,” he said. “You have to make the best out of the expe-rience and see where it leads.”

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i n d u s t r i a l s o l u t i o n s

Become a part of the Alliance Industrial Solutions Network and you’ll open up a

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“TemPROfessionals” Temporary Staffi ng Agencies Help Job Seekers Get Foot in the Door

By Barb Bragiel

126 W. College St.Kent Ohio 44240

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Fax 330-968-6520 www.TheJobsNetwork.com

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its@integrityjobs.com

Putting America back to work one person at a time

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