Human Resources

 What you must know before you buy staffing agency services.

According to the American Staffing Association, there are over 17,000 companies in the United States offering staffing services.  Services include a variety of temporary, contract, permanent placement, and HR consulting services.  The skill sets range from labor and office work to professional and technical work.  Americans are increasingly interested in working in contract positions which provide them variety and flexibility.  American corporations are turning to a more flexible workforce to fill the gaps that long periods of hiring freezes have caused.   When the economy starts picking up, employers will typically hire contract workers before committing to permanent placements.

In another sign that the economy may be improving faster than some CEOs expected, recently companies have started to get more aggressive about spending money to retain employees.

Every company faces employee turnover.  Over a career, jobs and opportunities come and go.  For a company, that employees will come and go is a fact.  Here’s another fact for you.  Did you know the cost of replacing someone is 3 to 5 times the annual salary for the position?  It puts new focus on retaining key employees.  Perhaps introduces the idea that a strategic staffing model can serve your business in more ways than one.

I enjoyed an article in Business Week a few years ago… right after the election of President Obama.  It was written by a right-leaning small business owner from the perspective of  how businesses can adjust the way they operate to survive from one political wind to another... and even profit!  I recently recalled that article (given my business development role for my own small business in an intensely cut throat industry and competitive market).  Part of the article that was of particular interest to me went went something like this…

One of the most dreaded interview questions that virtually every interviewer asks is: What are your greatest weaknesses?