Placing Job Seekers

One misconception regarding temporary employment agencies is that they simply place employees into open positions on a first come, first serve basis. This is rarely the case, as most temporary employment agencies take care to match their employees with the jobs that are best suited to their experience and abilities. This practice provides the greatest benefit to the employers, the staffing agencies, and the employees. The following are a few of the factors staffing services take into account when matching employees with suitable positions:

• Previous job experience. This is perhaps the most important aspect of a hiring decision for any business. In the temporary staffing industry, previous job experience is an important factor in matching an employee with the right company. A worker with twenty years of warehouse management experience is likely not going to be placed in an entry level clerical position, while a recent college graduate with a degree in information technology will be of little use in a middle management factory position.

Temporary employment agencies place workers in positions where their previous experience has given them the tools needed to succeed. This makes the employer’s company more productive, places the temporary worker in a good position to be hired as permanent staff, and increases the value of the staffing agency in the eyes of the employer.

• Education. Workers with continued education will likely be of greatest use to a staffing agency if placed in a position where their schooling will benefit them the most. For many staffing services, education equates to experience. For example, a cameraman with no education but 5 years of experience may be valued on an equal level with an inexperienced college graduate with a degree in film and communication. More educated workers also tend to get a higher salary.
• Availability. A temporary agent who lists his or her availability as 8:00-5:00, five days a week will be placed in more steady jobs than workers who are only available three days a week at varying times. Employees who are willing to work on weekends or work at unconventional hours may be more likely to get placements with companies that need second or third shift jobs, for example. Some companies are looking for flexible workers and only need a part time or temporary employee, while others are looking for an employee who has the potential to join permanent staff. A temporary staffing agency always strives to put workers in positions where they will thrive, and an employee’s availability is an important factor in his or her potential success.
• Long term or temporary. A worker seeking temporary work is not likely to be placed in a long term assignment designed to find a permanent staff member. Temporary employment agencies take into account the long term plans and needs of both employers and available agents before assigning workers to job openings.
• Levels of training. Some jobs require specific training and certifications; for example, CPR certification, forklift driving training, or a commercial driver’s license. If a worker has a variety of different certifications and training courses, he or she has a much higher chance of being placed in select positions. Some agencies offer ongoing education and training courses for workers interested in improving their chances of being placed.

Symphony Placements can provide more information about temporary employment agencies and how a staffing service places workers in the most suitable positions.