Tag Archive for: best staffing agency

Why Use Net Promoter Score?

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A tool that we have found to be useful, as a staffing agency that works with hundreds of associates every day, is Net Promoter Score (NPS).

An NPS is a single question survey that typically asks you to rate how likely you are to recommend a business to a friend or colleague, using a scale of 1-10.

As simple as it is, this tool is a great and cost-effective way to measure your areas for improvement and is a good indicator of what the success of your business will be, in the coming months and onward.

At Award Staffing, we survey our associates, as this is a standard practice in the staffing industry. Businesses that work solely with clients and customers will survey their partners to determine the likelihood of working together again.

If your company has yet to integrate an NPS, here are some of the reasons we highly recommend it.

1. Gives you an idea of where you can improve

Although a Net Promoter Score is only one question, it’s important to send follow-up questions depending on the results. If you notice a trend of receiving a less-than-satisfactory score, you’ll want to find out why. This way, you will know what areas you excel at and which processes have room for improvement. In any business, market research is essential to grow; implementing an NPS is a great starting point.

2. It allows you to gauge where you are in regards to your competitors

Everyone wants to be the best and most well-known in their industry. The companies that earn that reputation are the ones who are regularly looking to improve themselves, especially in the eyes of their target market. An NPS is a way to get inside the minds of your clients without asking too much out of them or having to put aside a large budget to do so.

3. It looks at the overall picture

A lot of other marketing tactics have a focus on one campaign, one interaction, or one area of a business. Since an NPS survey determines whether or not a company would recommend you, it tells you what you overall partnership looks like; be it between a company and their contingent workers or a company and their clients. In the case that you are receiving good overall feedback, your sales team can leverage it as a marketing tool to bring in more business.

4. Demonstrates Care

If a person or corporation has been partnering with you for a while, it can be easy to assume that everything between you is going well. However, if you want to ensure you keep your partnerships, you want to make the intentional effort to get feedback. By sending out NPS surveys, it shows your clients and/or associates that you do care about their needs and are open to feedback about where your company can do better. As many companies don’t bother checking in enough (aside from the occasional email), it will make you and your company stand out.

If your company is in need of employees, we at Award are here to support you. Contact us with your staffing needs here.

How to Build Connections in Your Community

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One of our biggest priorities at Award is building meaningful connections within our community. Not only are we in the staffing industry where relationships are everything, we also value giving back and partnering with local organizations to make a difference within our community through our Award Cares Program.

Whether you are in the staffing industry or not, we highly recommend creating a solid foundation of relationships with other businesses. Doing so well help you build rapport and lead to a good reputation within your community. This will likely get you regular referral and marketing/publicity opportunities, which will make the surrounding businesses want to partner with you, in some capacity in the future.

Here are our recommendations for how to create connections in your local community:

1. Follow and Engage with them on Social Media

It’s no secret that having a social media presence is absolutely crucial in the world we live in. By leveraging social media, you have the chance to showcase your brand’s personality and share your company’s culture. Because all social media platforms are algorithm based, following and regularly liking/commenting their posts will give them more exposure. Also, by leaving positive comments on their page, their prospective customers and clients will automatically trust them more.

2. Send them Holiday and Checking-In Gifts and Notes

Building relationships is the first step to creating meaningful connections, but it is equally important to maintain them. Every so often, send the executives of the company a gift or note, letting them know you are thinking of them. The people who run businesses can be skeptical of partnering with other companies when they feel like the other company is only out to see what’s in it for them. Doing this will create a human-to-human connection. Also, it doesn’t have to cost money. Even an email just to check in every once in a while can go a long way.

3. Provide Recommendations

When creating relationships, the best thing that you can do is come from a place of value. When communicating with other businesses, problems that they are facing will inevitably become a topic of conversation occasionally. Offer your unique perspective and solutions if you deem it fitting for the conversation. If nothing comes to mind right away, reach out later with a few ideas and resources. This shows that you were listening and that you genuinely care.

4. Refer and Connect Them

As networking is such a crucial part of any business, you will inevitably run into individuals and other companies who could use their services. If you know those people or organizations on a personal level, introduce them. If it is someone you are just meeting, give them your business associate’s contact information and ask that person or company to tell them that they were sent by you. People will be happy to return this favor.

5. Share their Needs and Wins with Your Network

Going back to social media, another great thing you can do for a business associate is spread the word about their needs and/or successes. If they post that they are hiring, share it your LinkedIn and Facebook connections. If they post about a recent win they had, help them celebrate by sharing their post. This will communicate genuine appreciation for their partnership and will incentivize them to do the same for you.

If your company is in need of employees, we at Award Staffing are here to help. Contact us with your staffing needs here.

 

 

Why It’s Important to Keep Up with Trends in Your Industry

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“Companies that will not change according to their environment will disappear. Follow trends and transform your business.”

In the ever-changing world that we live in, one of the best things your company can do is keep up with industry trends. Just like we all keep up with one another on social media, it’s important to do the same as trends emerge within your industry. While it can be tempting to stick with the tried-and-true things your company has done over the years, integrating trending things as they come up will set you apart and keep you in the know about your industry. Here are some reasons why it will benefit you to stay up-to-date on trends and how you can do so.

1. Forecasting

If you stay in the loop by implementing the latest trends into how your business operates, it will be much easier to predict things that are to come in the future for your industry. When you can make predictions based off of findings from your own research, observations, and conversations, you will be better equipped to plan for the future from all angles.

2. Be Seen as a Leader/Build Credibility

When you go first and are the first to integrate trending industry things into your operations, other businesses will view you as an authority. They will see your organization as “in the know” and not afraid to try new things. This will make them want to keep up with you on all platforms and model some of their business decisions in a similar way.

3. Better Business and Branding Ideas

By keeping up with trends, you’ll constantly be learning; new tools, new events to participate in, new ways to be efficient. This will give you a wider variety of things to work with- therefore, you will be able to experiment with more things and use them to generate new ideas. This ensures that anything you come up with will be modern and up-to-date.

4. You Won’t Be Caught Off-Guard

New trends within your industry are going to come up in conversation regularly. If you want to be seen as a leader, you’ll want to be able to take part in those conversations and discuss your experience with trending tools and topics. By staying on trend, you won’t get caught in awkward conversations where you’re the only who doesn’t know what everyone else is talking about.

5. New Opportunities

By participating in trends as they come up, you’ll be introduced to new people, new skills, new events, etc. This will inevitably present you with new opportunities more frequently. By having these connections and skills; you will have more to offer clients and will be able to charge more of a premium for your services.

6. Growth

As things in the world change, it is crucial to change with them. Although it can be difficult to want to change, especially when things are going well as they are, change means evolution, therefore is a good thing. You will never truly know how efficient or effective you can actually be if you don’t try new things. Don’t deprive yourself the opportunity to reach even more success by being closed off to the idea of implementing new trends.

 

Ways to Keep Up with Trends in Your Industry

1. Sign up for email lists

2. Take advantage of trainings and webinars

3. Keep up with your competitors on social media

4. Find an industry “buddy” that you regularly talk to

5. Subscribe to an industry publication

6. Follow industry exports across all platforms

 

If your company is in need of employees, we at Award are here to help. Contact us here with your staffing needs.

 

Star Tribune’s TOP 175 Workplaces 2021

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Award Staffing is so excited to announce that for the 6th year in a row, we have made the list of Star Tribune’s Top 175 places to work in Minnesota.  This award is intended to recognize companies that are engaged, well-managed, and employee-friendly; and is eligible to any company in the state that has at least 50 employees. When an organization decides to participate in this recognition program, they allow their employees to participate in a 24 question survey to be completed between the months of January and April. It asks questions about 7 factors:

1. Alignment

2. Effectiveness

3. Connection

4. Management

5. Employee Engagement

6. Leadership

7. Pay, benefits, and flexibility

The companies with the highest rankings across all sectors are then ranked in order. This year we were honored to take the place of 15th  in the small business category.  In addition to giving your company a chance to be recognized, it also gives you a snapshot of what is and isn’t currently working in your company. When we received an overview of our results, we discovered that nationally, we landed in the top 5% of all staffing agencies for meaningful work, cross-department teamwork, and employees feeling well-informed. Our administrative positions indexed in the 99th percentile for overall job satisfaction.

When we received the anonymous comments from our employees, we noticed a pattern that our employees felt supported in their career growth and look forward to coming to work every day. Over 80% of our team members are engaged with over 50% being enthusiastically engaged.

Overall, it was evident that our employees feel a sense of collaboration and community when they come to work every day. They feel like they have a lot of potential to grow and are appreciated for what they do every day.

As a top 150 workplace for 6-years in a row, we know the importance of creating a great environment to attract the right talent. If you are looking for a staffing partner that can help you showcase your job openings and company culture to rising talent, reach out to our account management team today!

 

How to Expand Your Professional Network

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Whether or not you’re currently in search of a new position or career, it is always a good idea to continuously be growing your network. You just never know when the time will come that you are in need of a change and if you keep your circle big, hopefully sometime down the line you are able to put someone else in contact with the right people as well.

When most people hear the term “networking”, they envision a cocktail party that comprises of hustlers handing out their business cards wondering who they can meet that will skyrocket them to the top. While that is definitely one of the better known ways to network, there are many other ways to meet and develop business and personal relationships with people both in-person and virtually.

Here are 5 ideas for expanding your network:

  1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

This one sounds obvious, but the majority of people use social networking platforms solely as a way of staying in touch with long-distance family members or old friends from high school and college. If you use your social media as a way of growing your personal brand, it can be an incredibly useful tool. Get involved in industry related groups and forums, post or share links about industry related topics on your page, comment and engage on posts relevant to your field or interests. This will give you a ton of credibility and you’ll start to be seen as a go-to person for job/industry knowledge. Networking isn’t just about asking, it’s also about giving.

In the case that you are attending an event such as a convention or trade show, reach out to others who are attending and get to know some of them before the day of. If you prefer not to mix business with personal, you can always set up a separate account specifically for networking.

  1. MAKE A LIST

Even if you don’t have your own business, you should still have an email list. Begin with listing out everyone that you know professionally from college, internships, past jobs, past events, etc. Include their email and where they live. Then expand to friends of friends. Keep adding to your list every time you make a connection and be sure to keep in touch with each person from time to time. This can look like a phone call or text, an email, or a direct message on social media. Staying on people’s radar is key; don’t just create the list and then ditch it. Networking is equally about being seen and keeping people in mind.

  1. SPEND TIME IN THE RIGHT SOCIAL SPOTS

Ask yourself, “If I wanted to run into more people in my industry, where would they be spending time?” What coffee shop do they have regular meetings? What bar do they have company happy hours once per month? If there is a certain industry professional you want to meet who regularly hosts or attends specific events, make it a point to be there. And then, be sure you introduce yourself and engage in meaningful conversation. The point of attending these events is to get to know people and for them to get to know you. Be sure you make yourself known by being friendly and cordial, and having something valuable to bring to the table.

  1. PERFORM GOOD NETWORKING DEEDS

In the long term, people are going to remember the kind things you did for them. A few times per week or per month, choose a few people and do something to benefit their personal brand. Endorse them on LinkedIn, leave their company a good review on Yelp, connect two people you know, recommend them to the write people. There is an endless list of ways you can make a professional, kind gesture for someone. People will remember when you did this and will be glad to return the favor.

  1. Consider Volunteering

When you put yourself out there, you just never know who you’re going to meet. And, depending on what type of volunteering you are doing, you may even have a chance to show people some of your skills and work ethic. Opportunities often come from being in the right place at the right time, so the more you make an effort to be involved, the higher your chances are of finding something. People will also remember your assistance and will think of you when an opportunity becomes available.

Whoever you meet, be sure to add them to your contact list.

As you can see, there are many different paths you can take to growing your network. Remember, growing a network takes time, so be patient as you’re expanding.

If you are currently in search of a new job, be sure to check out our newest postings here.

What is the Purpose Behind your Business?

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These days, everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than them.  Not only are customers and clients more likely to work with a business with a mission towards change, but we are also moving towards a Millennial and Gen-Z led workforce; and they are known as the purpose driven generations.  So what does it even mean to have a purpose behind your business? It means to regularly support or take action towards a cause other than your own products or services. Whether you have been in business for several decades or are in the midst of launching right now, it is always possible to incorporate an aligned mission into your company model. Believe it or not, purpose and profit are directly correlated. Therefore, as much as it may seem like adding a mission to your model creates more work just to net less, both your business and the community will benefit if you choose to do so.

“Purpose doesn’t make decisions easy, it makes them clear.”

It’s Not What You Sell: It’s What You Stand For

                                      -Roy Spence

When CEO’s and business owners make purpose a core piece of their organization, it can act as a compass for strategy and decisions including: who to hire, who to partner with, and what type of clients to work with. When everyone in the company is clear on what the business stands for (and doesn’t stand for), collective decisions, assessing opportunities, and innovating out of problems becomes easier. This empowers employees to make decisions without feeling the need to consult their manager first as they can be confident in knowing that it aligns with the company’s core values. Additionally, when you let your purpose guide your decisions, it will help steer you away from short-term thinking and scarcity mentality to focus on the overall picture and end goal.

Having a clearly defined purpose also builds your reputation as a company. When you become known in your local market as well as on a larger scale as a company with a calling, you’ll differentiate yourself from other brands and organizations by being seen as a corporation with a larger role in society. This will increase brand loyalty and make organizations as well as individuals more likely to recommend and endorse your services.

Furthermore, there are many other reasons why it is important for your business to have a purpose. Some examples are:

-Builds public trust

-Attracts top talent

-Drives strong work ethic and optimal work culture

-Improves business performance

-Gives the satisfaction of knowing you are contributing to the common good of the environment and/or society

So what are examples of a purpose behind a company? It can be carried out in a number of ways and doesn’t have to look like that of any other organization. Some examples are:

-Donating a percentage of all profits to a cause that aligns with your company

-Hosting monthly, quarterly, or yearly events that benefit an organization of your choice

-Partnering with a local corporation to help employ those in need

-Scheduling regular staff outings to volunteer in the community

-Becoming a pay-it-forward company

If you are an established or up-and-coming brand looking to integrate a purpose into your brand, here are some steps you can take to help you determine what it will be and how you will coalesce it into your business.

STEP 1: Examine the Core Values of Your Company

You will want to make sure that when you decide how and where you want to contribute that it is parallel with what your company’s values as a whole as well as what the non-negotiables are. This will help you establish whether or not you want to partner with another organization, how much and/or how often you’re going to contribute, and the type of cause(s) you want to be affiliated with.

STEP 2: Determine what Legacy You Want to Leave Behind

What does your company want to be known for? Although it is inevitable for the economy and workforce to evolve, your purpose can (and should) remain consistent. Even though it might be enticing to switch causes every so often, keeping it the same will give you something to be recognized by. It will make the company look more genuine as being passionate about a specific cause instead of half-heartedly contributing to any cause you can get involved in.

STEP 3: Set a Goal

What type of change does your company want to facilitate? To feed or clothe a certain number of people each year? To find X number of people a job every year? To raise a certain amount of money for the non-profit of your choice every event? To volunteer a certain amount of times within a year? Setting a goal will give you the ability to map out exactly how you’re going to follow-through with achieving it and gives employees a chance to see how they fit into the plan as well as gives them something to look forward to.

STEP 4: Combine the Goal with an Action Step

Now that you know what the goal is, put all of the necessary steps to reach it in place. This means; get in contact with the organization you want to partner with, set up what day each month the donations are going to come out of the account, book the space you’re going to host your benefit events, schedule the employee volunteer outings. Once all logistics are put into place, you can focus on achieving the goal you set by taking the action steps needed to bring it to fruition.

If your company is looking to bring in new talent, Award Staffing is here to help. Be sure to check out our services page and contact us here:

 

Finding Long-Term Workers Through A Staffing Agency

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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 Choose the Best Staffing Agency in Minnesota

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Staffing agencies are a great way to find jobs with Minnesota businesses that best suite your needs, skill requirements, and career goals, but how do you find and choose the best one for you? Here are some tips.

Do a Google Search –

The easiest and simplest way to find a staffing agency in your area is to do a Google search. The best way to do this is to simply insert the name of your city or industry your company is in, followed by the term “staffing agency.” For example, if you owned a restaurant in Minnesota, you could input “restaurant staffing agency Minnesota,” You may need to play around with the keywords a little bit, but you will quickly attain results.

Use Word of Mouth –

If you have co-workers, friends or family who have used staffing agencies in the past, ask them the name of the staffing agency they used. Referrals are a great way to find which staffing agency to use because your network will be able to vouch for their past experiences with that staffing agency.

Compare Your Needs to Their Services –

Once you have found several appropriate staffing agencies, it’s time to compare them. Which ones offer services for the positions you have open. Are your needs one of their specialties or a secondary service they “also offer” in addition to where they concentrate their efforts?

Assess Previous Success Stories –

Look for testimonials and success stories on the staffing agency’s website. If you can’t find any, don’t hesitate to call the staffing agency and ask them to provide it to you. Why waste your time and money on a staffing agency that doesn’t have a high placement success rate?

If you’re looking for a reputable staffing agency to help you find a new job opportunity, contact Award Staffing. We have an Award-Winning tradition of finding Minnesota job seekers top jobs. We will work with you to make sure we understand all of your experiences and needs to find you the best job in Minnesota. Want to learn more about When Work Works – visit our blog now for the news topics and articles.