Still looking for work? Tired of sending your resume into a black hole? Wouldn’t it be great to have an agent to market you like athletes and celebrities do? You are just as special, right? Consider Staffing Agencies…wait, don’t stop reading. These tips can help you regardless of whether you work with an agency, or you use this tips to get your dream job on your own.
Ever wonder why you can’t find those great jobs you hear about on huge job boards? Most likely, it’s because the company is working with a staffing firm to fill their positions. Staffing companies match millions of people to millions of jobs. Did you know that 2.98 million people per day are employed by staffing companies? Did you know that 12.9 million temporary and contract employees are hired by U.S. staffing firms over the course of each year and 79% of temporary and contract employees work full time, virtually the same as the rest of the work force?
Staffing agencies are only successful through partnerships with their clients and employees. They have numerous connections through those loyal partnerships with employers. The likelihood of getting into a company through a staffing firm is much higher than going in alone. Staffing firms know their clients, and their clients trust them. Recruiters have established a solid connection with their clients, which makes establishing a good rapport much easier than it would be if you walked in alone.
Have you applied with a staffing firm before? Did they never contact you? Did your resume seem to fall through the cracks?
Here are seven tips for getting noticed and breaking the barrier into a Staffing firm, or straight into your dream job.
First, you need to make sure the Staffing firm is the right fit for you.
- Do Your Homework: Does the Staffing firm place candidates in positions you are seeking? Are they local? Do they represent the areas where you are looking to work? Do they have a good reputation? You can access this information by visiting their website, and checking out their recruiters on LinkedIn.
Once you have narrowed it down to your top 3 agencies, make contact.
- Be Proactive: After checking out their website, you can complete an online application. I highly advise doing this before sending your resume. Make sure it is as accurate as possible. Don’t leave any room for questions.
- First Impressions: Call the agency and let them know you have applied online and would like to speak with a recruiter about your job search. You will be directed to a recruiter or given their email address where you can send your resume. Send your email and do the follow-up work. Recruiters are looking to know the following: What type of work you are seeking including industries you might like, minimum salary requirements, reasons for leaving your most recent positions, and where you are looking to work (Santa Rosa, Petaluma—travel proximity, etc.) If you have any gaps of employment, explain them. Attach letters of recommendation if you have them, skill assessments and other tertiary material, this is where you can sell yourself with accurate details. Recruiters get numerous emails and calls a day, so make it short and to the point.
- Social Media: After you send the email, connect with the recruiters on LinkedIn. I think this is a great way to stay in the loop with them on a daily basis and see their postings. If they are top recruiters, most of their posts will be job-related, including job openings. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and accurate.
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Once you’ve made a connection with your recruiter, send a follow-up email.
- Be Unique: A follow-up email shows that you are taking your job hunt seriously. This shows the recruiter that you mean business. A simple ‘Thank you for taking the time to speak with me’ goes a long way. You will stick out from the rest of the group. A thank you note card also goes a long way, but I recommend sending that after your interview with the recruiter. If you are a dynamite candidate, recruiters will work for you and get you that interview.
Now you’re scheduled for an interview with your recruiter:
- Show up on time and be presentable: Make sure to have all of your references and contact information at hand. Additional letters of recommendation are always beneficial.
- Make it Effortlessly Swift: Recruiters are inundated between working with candidates, employees, and clients. Make it easy for them to work with you and build a relationship. If it is seamless, they will work for you and do what they can to get you that job you’ve been dreaming about.
Continue to follow up with your recruiter to ensure that you are a priority. Most agencies will not bring you in through the whole process unless they feel they can place you within seven days. This is a respectable thing to do and if they do not bring you in, don’t get discouraged! It’s better not to waste your time in a two-hour process where you won’t receive a call at the end.
Finally, don’t give up. If you get feedback, incorporate the new information and get back out there and try again. Staffing agencies can mean the difference between never hearing back from a job, and just a few hours of legwork. Keep trying!
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ABOUT STAR STAFFING
With over 20 years in the industry, Star Staffing has thrived as a top temporary staffing agency. Star Staffing supports multiple industries including wine, manufacturing, finance, warehouse and distribution, and more employers. As the economy heals, we looking forward to maintaining our promise: we are here when you need us.
Star Staffing is a full-service workforce solutions firm. We focus on making the best match between employee and employer. With offices throughout Northern California including Lodi, Sacramento, Fairfield, Napa, Hayward, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa, Star Staffing is just a phone call or click away.