Northwest Staffing Blog

Today’s workforce has different needs than the workforce of 20, 30, or 40 years ago. Responding to those diverse needs is critical if a company wants to remain competitive now – and in the future. Here are some ideas for adopting a diversity program at your company:

Analyzing diversity at your company.
The first phase is to analyze where you are and where you want to be in terms of diversity. That may mean conducting either formal or informal affirmative action analyses, and then establishing a vision for the future.

Creating targeted recruiting efforts.
If your company hasn’t met its diversity goals, the next step is to refine recruiting efforts to directly speak to certain groups, such as blacks, women, or seniors.

Implementing sensitivity training.
Educate and inform your managers and employees about diversity issues through sensitivity training. These seminars and presentations help to ensure that both groups work together to create a comfortable and supportive environment for everyone.

Ensure equal opportunity for growth.
If you’ve found that your company’s culture is not open to diversity, you may need to make major modifications to ensure that all employees have equal opportunities for growth and advancement.

Holding management accountable.
In order for a diversity initiative to succeed, managers need to be held accountable. Performance criteria and bonuses must be based upon the effective management of diversity, including recruitment and retention.

By effectively managing diversity in the workplace, your company can embrace new opportunities, meet the needs of your workforce, and remain more competitive for years to come. If you need help implementing a diversity initiative at your company, contact Northwest Staffing. We can help.

The Northwest job market is more cutthroat than ever, which can make the task of finding a good position seem overwhelming. It can be done, but don’t sabotage your efforts by making these common job search mistakes:

Mistake #1: Ignoring the basics.
Be sure to include your name, address, phone, email, work history and education on your resume. These are the basics and every potential employer is expecting them.

Mistake #2: Using an inappropriate email address.
As an employment agency serving the Northwest, you’d be surprised by the number of resumes we see with emails like pookybear102@aol.com. Don’t make this mistake. Instead, create a simple and professional email address that includes your first and last name.

Mistake #3: Sounding unprofessional in your voicemail.
If you’re sending out resumes and know that employers will be calling you, make sure that your voicemail greeting reflects the professional that you are. “What up?” doesn’t cut it.

Mistake #4: Not proofreading your resume.
Proofread your resume every time you send it out. Don’t simply rely on spell check to do the job for you. Why? Because your computer’s spell check program will ignore mistakes like using “untie” instead of “unite.”

Mistake #5: Posting unflattering photos online.
Nowadays, many prospective employers will receive your resume and then Google you. If that’s the case, then you better hope there’s nothing racy or inappropriate posted about you, like those drunken pictures from your bachelor party. Either set your profiles on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to private, or better yet, use this rule of thumb – if you don’t want an employer to see it, don’t post it.

Mistake #6: Using just one tool, like big name job search engines.
Big name job websites are a great way to search for a new position; however, you shouldn’t depend 100% on them. Many smaller companies don’t advertise on these sites, so you could be missing out on some rewarding opportunities. It’s also important to take other steps to finding a job, like attending a job fair, networking with others, and working with a staffing agency like Northwest Staffing.

Mistake #7: Sending your resume to every company and recruiter under the sun.
You’re setting yourself up for failure if you do this. Instead, take a targeted approach to submitting your resume. Only submit your resume for those positions that you truly qualify for and be sure to tailor your resume and cover letter for each position.

Mistake #8: Not following up.
Once you’ve had an interview, send a thank you note or an email to the person that interviewed you. Even if the interview didn’t go so well, or you realized you are unqualified for the position, you always want to make a good impression. After all, you never know what could happen in the future. A position you are qualified for could open up at the company or the person that interviewed you may refer your resume to a colleague at another company.

Whether you’re just beginning your job search, or you’ve been at it for a while, the employment recruiters at Northwest Staffing can help. We work with some of the leading companies in Seattle and Spokane and can give you access to a variety of exciting opportunities. Best of all, our job search service is free for candidates.

Contact Northwest Staffing today to learn more or search our current job openings now.

Finding a  job through an employment agency can offer a variety of benefits, from flexibility to free training. However, if you’ve never worked for an employment agency before, you may be feeling a little perplexed about the process.

Not to worry.

Northwest Staffing has put together a list of questions you should ask to ensure an employment agency – and the  jobs they’re offering – are right for you.

General Questions About the Employment Agency

• How much experience do you have?

• What kinds of companies do you work with?

• What kinds of  jobs do you fill?

• Do I have to pay to use your service? (If the answer is yes, then run – not walk – in the opposite direction. No reputable employment agency will ask job seekers to pay for temporary job placements.)

Questions About Agency Policy

• Will you notify me when a position I’m suited for becomes available, or should I call in regularly? When’s the best time to call?

• What if I am not interested in a certain position when it is offered; can I turn it down?

• What if I accept a temporary job, but it’s not working out for me? What should I do?

• What happens if I show up to a job, but the company doesn’t need me? Do I still get paid?

• Will I receive any kind of special training? What kind of training? Is it free?

• What’s your policy if a company wants to hire me full-time?

Questions About Pay & Benefits

• How do I keep track of hours worked?

• What’s the approximate pay rate for the kinds of  jobs I’m qualified for?

• When do I get paid?

• What kind of benefits does your employment agency offer to temporary employees?

• Does your employment agency offer any overtime? What’s the pay rate for overtime?

It’s important to get answers to these questions before signing on with any employment agency. The better you understand and communicate with your employment agency, the better the results.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about finding  jobs in or around Seattle, Washington, please feel free to contact Northwest Staffing today.