The Benefits of Phone Screening Candidates

/in

If you are currently in the middle of hiring new employees for your company, but discovering that the entire recruiting process takes a long time – too long. Pre-screening candidates by phone can help reduce the time factor. Here’s why:

1. You Won’t Waste Your Time

Holding in-person interviews is an extremely time-consuming process. You need to have someone on-site directing the candidates, one or more additional employees conducting the interviews, and another managing the paperwork. Don’t spend the time and cost involved only to discover the candidate is ineligible when you could have easily determined that via a phone interview. Narrow the pool to a few great choices before you begin in-person interviews.

2. Gauge Your Level of Commitment

When you conduct a phone interview with a potential candidate, they can gauge your level of commitment. Not all companies take the added step of pre-qualifying candidates before they get to meet the team, so it will be a good indicator for your applicants that you take adding members to your workforce very seriously. They will also be able to ask you questions so they don’t waste their time applying for a job that wouldn’t be a good fit for them.

3. Prepare Them for the In-Person Interview

If you conduct phone interviews with potential candidates, you can easily prepare them for the in-person interview. For example, you can use the phone interview as a basic screening, but employ more advanced interview tactics and hypothetical situations during the actual interview. Doing the phone pre-screening allows you to get the essential questions answered so you can focus on whether or not that candidate is a good fit for your company, specifically.

Pressed for time even with pre-screening by phone? It’s time to connect with Award Staffing. We pre-screen and conduct in-person interviews before sending you the top matches for each open position. Contact us today and discover the Award Staffing difference.

Finding Long-Term Workers Through A Staffing Agency

/in

Is there a great candidate or associate that you are looking to hire long-term, but know they have had a history of hopping from one assignment to another? Here are some tips on how you can convert an associate that is used to short-term assignments to stay on a long-term assignment with your company by using a staffing agency.

Staffing Companies Ask About The Associates Long-Term Goals

We are able to pre-vet candidates by asking about their long-term goals. If their long-term goals involve making a career change, moving out-of-state, or not wanting to work, we can safely assume that they wouldn’t be a serious long-term temporary associate for your company.

Look at Their Employment History

Past behavior is a strong predictor of future behavior, so we carefully study each candidates’ employment history. If they seem to jump from job to job every few weeks or months (and it’s their choice), we may have reason to believe that they may not be looking for a long-term assignment. To make sure that isn’t the case, we ask associates why they may have hopped from one assignment to another. They may just be looking for the right fit and that could be with your company.

Foresee Why They Wouldn’t Stay Long-Term

If we don’t see any glaring red flags why they wouldn’t be a serious long-term associate, we always come right out and ask them: “Is there any reason why you wouldn’t want to stay at this company longer than six months?” Hopefully, they will be honest enough with us so we can gauge whether or not they’re a good fit for placement at a company like yours.

Tell the Associate Why They Would Want to Stay Long Term With Your Company

We want to make sure the associates understand why our clients’ companies are a good fit for them. Make sure you let the staffing company know what benefits your company may have for their associates that work for you through a staffing agency. Do you have free snacks, generous breaks, large break room, growth opportunities, or great work environment? Make it known why it’s a great place to work long-term and if there is a future for the associates there.

If you’re looking to hire associates from a staffing agency, contact Award Staffing. We have the experience to help place associates on an assignment that are both long and short term.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How to Have a Successful Hiring Event in Minneapolis

/in

Need to hire several employees at one time? Consider having a hiring event. These events will let you compare multiple candidates at one time, which is extremely cost-effective and time-effective. Here are tips for a successful event.

Spread the Word-

You can do this through social media marketing, making the event free, connecting with a staffing agency, word-of-mouth referral system, etc.  Taking time and effort beforehand to encourage attendance will bring payoff on the day of your event.

Make Immediate Connections-

The whole point of having a hiring event is to make immediate connections with potential recruits. Collect their contact information and resumes on the spot. If an attendee interests you, put their resume in a designated file. Attach a few notes to remind you who the person was when you go through the resumes after the event.

Conduct Brief Interviews-

Learn the art of the 3 to 5-minute interview. At-the-moment interviews will help separate the best from the rest when you are ready to call in people for more in-depth interviews following the event.

Display Your Company Culture-

Hiring fairs can often be a little frustrating for recruits because they feel as though they don’t get to see the company culture. You can remedy this issue by bringing some of your company’s culture to the hiring fair. For example, you could staff your booth with your current employees as opposed to brand ambassadors. You could also have informational displays about the benefits of working for your company versus any other companies.

If you’ve decided that you want to have a hiring event, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to send potential recruits who would be a great fit for your business and turn into amazing employees.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

When Do Minnesota Company’s Give Pay Raises?

/in

If you have employees who have been working for your company for a while, you may have encountered the question of when you should give them a raise. Whether they have asked or you have thought about this question on your own, there are some general rules you should follow. Here’s how you can tell whether you should give your employees a pay raise or not:

How Long Have They Been Working for You?

The easiest way in which you can determine whether or not to give someone a raise is to see how long they’ve been working for you. If they’ve been working for you for a year or longer, without a raise, it’s time to step up and reward their dedication and loyalty.

What Are the Comparisons in Your Industry?

When determining whether or not you should give someone a raise, always take the time to do some comp research in your industry. Knowing what employees are being paid for similar positions in your area will help you ensure that you are paying fairly. If you fail to give raises and fall below the bar, you may very well start losing workers.

How Much Do You Value Them?

Sometimes, you don’t need a specific reason to give an employee a raise (such as time on the job or meeting the local standards). When you place a high value on an employee because they arrive on time, fulfill their tasks, do great work, meet deadlines, inspire a positive attitude among co-workers, etc. it’s time for a merit raise. These are the most enjoyable raises to give.

Of course, the best way to find workers who stay on the job, meet employee standards, and are worthy of merit raises, is to partner with a staffing agency, such as Award Staffing. We help companies hire new employees who fit within your company’s payroll budget and build your workforce successfully. Contact us today.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Train Your Employees to Maximize Customer Service

/in

Customer service is imperative in almost every line of business; therefore, it makes sense that your employees should know how to maximize their customer service skills. Here are a few of our favorite tips for training your employees to maximize their customer service skills.

Encourage Smiling-

Smiling is a universal way of being friendly. In almost every culture, a smile can show another person that you’re friendly, ready to help, and perceptive of their needs. Therefore, you need to remind your employees to smile when they’re interacting with your customers, even if they aren’t necessarily “happy.

Encourage Positive Reinforcement-

Another pinnacle of customer service is ensuring that the customer feels like they’re being heard. One way in which your employees can accomplish this is by practicing positive reinforcement. For example, if a customer is complaining about something, your employee can repeat what they’re saying back to them and acknowledge it.

Encourage “The Customer is Always Right”-

No matter what, the customer is always right. You need to train your employees to adopt this mindset – even when interacting with particularly difficult customers. It will reduce conflict and encourage customer loyalty. Employees who tend to be impatient are not a good fit for customer service roles.

If you need to hire a new employee to handle customer service relations, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to match you up with someone who is friendly, engaging, outgoing, and driven.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How Minnesota Companies Maximize Their Referrals

/in

Referrals are an extremely important part of the job-seeking process because they give employers confidence that they are about to make a good decision in hiring you. When an employer calls a reference, they are likely wanting to know more about your character, work experience, and passion. Here’s how you can maximize your referrals.

Ask Permission-

One big mistake a lot of individuals make is failing to ask permission of their referrals. You want to ask permission because you want your referrals to know you’re considering using them in your job search, obtain their permission, and give them time to be prepared. Otherwise, if you don’t, your potential employer may run into some very awkward phone calls.

Keep Your Referrals Updated-

Keep your referrals updated on your job search. If you receive a job offer, let your referrals know that you won’t be using them for the next several months (or however long you expect to be employed). They will appreciate the courtesy, and it will keep you fresh in their minds for the next time you need to use them.

Choose Referrals Who Will Speak Highly of You-

This is common sense, of course, but you need to choose referrals who will speak highly of you. There is no point in choosing a boss who fired you as opposed to someone who highly valued you as an employee.

Choosing wisely can have a great impact on your job search. Bring your referrals to Award Staffing. We will help match you up with a company that notes your positive references and puts your skills and educational experience to good use.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Why Let a Minnesota Staffing Agency Handle Temp Hires

/in

Hiring new employees is never fun because it’s a time-consuming process that doesn’t necessarily guarantee the results you want. We would recommend letting a staffing agency handle hiring temporary employees, and here’s why.

Save Time-

Looking for new employees is extremely time-consuming.  Creating and posting a job description is only the first two steps. Then you have to field candidates, interview them, and make final decisions. If you outsource to a staffing agency, you can use all that time to focus on your business instead of searching for employees.

Access a Wider Candidate Pool-

Staffing agencies have a wider candidate pool than you do as a potential employer. Therefore, it makes sense to work with a staffing agency so you can increase your chances of hiring the perfect fit for your company.

Allow Creative Input-

By working with a staffing agency, you are introducing a third party into your business. This can often be a very positive thing because that third party can provide creative input. For example, you may have never thought about hiring a “junior-level” employee to do a “senior-level” job, but a staffing agency might have just the right candidate who can do both for multiple reasons.

If you’ve determined that you want new employees but don’t have the time or manpower to do it in-house, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to pool together our resources to help you find the finest talent for your workplace.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Don’t Be a Minnesota Employer That Micro-Manages

/in

When you’re an employer, it’s hard not to cross the line between being active and micro-managing. When you need something to get done, it’s often just easier to order your employees to do it; however, this is often not the most effective way to do so. Here’s how to be an active employer without micro-managing.

Suggest Rather than Order-

One of the easiest ways to be an active employer, without micromanaging, is to suggest rather than order. Whenever you tell an employee what to do, they may feel like their creativity and energy are being stifled. By suggesting they do something instead of ordering them to do it, they will likely be that much more productive, creative, and happy.

Ask for Feedback-

If you want to be an active employer, ask for feedback from your employees – on a consistent basis. This will help you know what your employees are thinking and feeling and better understand their motivations. It will also help you to communicate with them effectively.

Involve Your Employees in Decisions-

Whenever you can, involve your employees in your decisions. Nothing makes people feel like they’re being micromanaged more than when they feel as though they have no say in anything. These decisions could be anything from when the company holiday party is to how you’re going to implement the new break policy at work. Whatever you decide, your new employees will feel like you’re listening to them and that they’re a part of the team.

If you’re dedicated to being an active employer instead of one who simply micromanages, and you’re in need of new employees, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you find employees who are receptive to your suggestions and guidance but are also able to work effectively on their own.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Why Minnesota Businesses Use Digital Time Keeping

/in

If you’re an employer, chances are that you’re constantly evaluating the effectiveness of your workplace policies and solutions to make sure that everything is running seamlessly. One facet of the workplace that employers often forget to improve, however, is the concept of the timecard. Have you considered the benefit of going digital?

Less Room for Error-

When you work with paper timecards, there is room for error in the sense that employees can mistakenly (or purposely) mess with the hours they worked. This can lead to inaccurate pay, which can ultimately wreak havoc on your employee’s payroll and overall business budget. When you go digital, everything is recorded and calculated automatically, so there is no room for error.

Have More Control Over Your Employees-

When you use digital time cards, you can see when your employees punch in for work as opposed to when they say they arrived at work. This allows you to have more control over your employees, as they will ultimately be more responsible for their actions and will not be able to rely on excuses or fabricating times to receive their pay.

Keep a Record-

When you use digital time cards, it’s much easier for you to keep a record. This means that you can go back and look at backdated time logs to see patterns and habits of your employees who came in for work. This is much easier and much more organized than using paper time cards because there is so much more potential for those records to be misplaced.

If you are in need of hiring new employees who are responsible and won’t be late for or miss their shifts, contact Award Staffing. We have a wide database of individuals who would make excellent employees and who would do your company proud.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

3 Reasons Why You Should Prioritize Candidate Referrals

/in

Hiring can be a tricky, expensive process that can either have great results or disastrous results for your company. Whenever possible, try to prioritize candidate referrals over any other type of applicant – here’s why.

1. Rely on Other People’s Experiences-

The great thing about relying on candidate referrals is that other people have already done the pre-vetting for you. When someone is referred to you, that person is putting their reputation on the line for doing so. This increases your chance of securing a high-quality candidate.

2. Accurate Character References –

When someone is referred, you can rest easy knowing that their character references are more accurate. It’s one thing for a candidate to refer to himself or herself as being responsible and timely; it’s another thing for a former employer to confirm that an employee actually is responsible and timely.

3. Less Costly to Do So-

It’s expensive to hire candidates, especially if they don’t work out for your company in the long run. When someone is referred to you, it’s safer to assume that they are looking for a long-term position and will be a “good hire.” By eliminating individuals who are only looking for short-term gain, you will ultimately find yourself saving money.

If you’re looking to hire reputable employees for your company, contact Award Staffing. We will refer candidates who have excellent references that we have personally hand-verified for you. We will make sure that the candidate who joins your team is nothing short of what you are seeking.

 

FINDING YOUR TALENT

Want to learn more about how Award Staffing can help your organization with your staffing and employment needs? Start by providing our team with a few pieces of information about yourself, and we will take care of the rest.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.