I was impressed by the resourcefulness the BP2’s leaders used in engaging their network and also the personal touch delivered in the process. I felt as if a long-time friend was placing me into the long-sought career of my dreams.
Broomfield, CO – February 21, 2013 – Bolder Staffing, Inc. announced today it has been named to Inavero’s 2013 Best of Staffing™ Client list of award winners. Presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, the fourth annual Best of Staffing list provides the only statistically valid, objective, service quality benchmarks in the industry and reveals which staffing agencies are delivering exceptional service to their clients. This year’s list highlights a growing divide among the industry’s leaders and laggards, and identifies Bolder Staffing, Inc. as one of the best staffing agencies for companies to call when they are looking to hire temporary or permanent employees.
Less than one percent of all staffing agencies in North America receive the Best of Staffing award for service excellence. Utilizing the Net Promoter® methodology, the 2013 Best of Staffing Client winners achieved satisfaction scores quadruple the industry average. This stark contrast in scores is a clear indication that the firms who have earned their way onto the 2013 Best of Staffing list truly stand out for their service quality. Bolder Staffing, Inc. received satisfaction ratings of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 76.4% percent of their clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 39 percent.
“Less than 1% of staffing firms in the US and Canada have been named to the Best of Staffing List for Client Satisfaction…” Bolder Staffing, Inc.’s President and CEO, Jackie Osborn said. “We are proud and honored to be recognized for our efforts in this way.”
“Few things are more important to companies than the employees you hire,” said Inavero Founder and CEO, Eric Gregg. “The same holds true for candidates on their quest for employment. Staffing agencies have proven to successfully connect companies with permanent and temporary employees. Since the end of the recession, the staffing and recruiting industry has created more jobs than any other single industry in the country**, yet so many companies and job candidates don’t take advantage of this expertise and resource. Our hope is that both companies and talent use the Best of Staffing lists as a benchmark to help select a staffing agency that can either secure the talent or employment opportunity they need.”
®Net Promoter, NPS, and Net Promoter Score are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, and Fred Reichheld. Net Promoter Score is calculated by taking the percentage of respondents who, on a scale of 0 to 10, rate their likelihood to recommend the staffing agency with a score of 9 or 10 (promoters) and subtracting the percentage who rate the staffing agency a 6 or lower (detractors).
**Bureau of Labor Statistics
About Inavero
Inavero administers more staffing agency client and talent satisfaction surveys than any other firm in the world. Inavero’s team reports on satisfaction surveys from more than 500,000 staffing agency clients and talent each year and the company serves as the American Staffing Association’s exclusive research partner.
Inavero’s Best of Staffing™ is the nation’s only award that recognizes staffing agencies that receive remarkable reviews from their clients and the people they help find jobs (employed talent). The Best of Staffing winner lists are a central place that businesses and talent go to find the best staffing agencies to call when they are in need.
Leadership is defined “as the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group.”[1] Leadership is not something that you are born with; it’s something that you can learn to be. Over time, I have experienced many types of leaders. Some were loud and in your face, while others were passive and persuasive. Many methods of being a leader can be effective, but in order to be an effective leader you should work toward traits that all leaders must have in order to succeed.
Be a problem solver
Being a problem solver involves a lot more than you might think. It’s not just about identifying a problem but finding a solution. Someone with keen skills at solving problems will learn and investigate as much as they can about the problem. These investigations lead to solutions that solve the root of the problem. The reason a problem solver is successful is that they solve problems and not just cover them up or put band aids on them.
Think Big Picture
Being able to see the big picture is being able to determine how all of the smaller pieces and details fit into the ultimate goal. This is important because it helps a person delegate time and assets appropriately, create a strategic plan, and prioritize. As a leader works through the details of a project or goal; they have to be able to take a step back and confirm that what they are doing matches the long term or overall strategic objectives. This does not diminish the importance of details but it does make sure that all the details are in line with the overall effort.
Be a proactive leader not a reactive leader
Proactive leaders inspire people to follow. They work with the broad company focus in mind and reach goals with greater ease. Reactive leaders tend to work frantically while trying to achieve objectives. Anticipation is the key to being a successful proactive leader. Anticipation allows for a leader to be better prepared for when problems or changes occur. This creates a more positive workplace and increases positive results.
Make tough decisions
Decisions made by leaders may affect the wellbeing of a company and its employees. Not all decisions need to be the correct decision, but they need to be backed up with the goals of the company in mind. Having the ability to pull the trigger is what makes a leader. Think back to a bad boss in your past. We have all had them. They are indecisive and work in fear instead of striving for goals and objectives. A leader isn’t afraid, which is the key to being successful.
Share your vision
A leader that shares their vision is the key to success. Most people and team members want to succeed. Therefore, if the vision is communicated and a plan is place, members will be motivated. Involving and educating employees will help them understand how decisions are made.
The job market has been improving in Denver, Colorado, and across the nation. This brings promise and an optimistic outlook as we move forward. So, how can you be more marketable to employers in the New Year? Here are my five New Year’s resolutions for job seekers:
1. Focus Your Job Search
Start with writing job types that fit your qualifications. Many candidates partake in what I call the “Shot Gun” method. This means applying to as many positions as possible whether you are qualified or not. The theory is if you send out enough resumes eventually one will hit its target. As you can guess the odds are against you when using this method. The unemployment rate is still unfavorable so employers can be selective. This means that your skills need to match the requirements or it will be extremely unlikely you will get an offer.
2. Add More Tools to Your Toolbox
After you focus your job search you might discover that you don’t have certain skills that you need for the career you want. If a position requires a specific skill that you don’t have, research how to gain that knowledge. There are many inexpensive and free websites that offer skill training certifications. A good place to start is your local workforce center.
Join a committee or volunteer for a charity. This not only helps you make great connections, but looks fantastic on your resume. Imagine if a candidate pool is narrowed down to you and one other candidate and you are able to comment on your leadership committee involvement? If your competitor doesn’t have something comparable, it may be what puts you over the top.
4. Make New Connections
This is probably the most time consuming resolution but could also be the most important. As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Get involved with groups from Meetup.com, local Chamber of Commerce chapters, or any other networking organization.
If you haven’t created a LinkedIn profile, DO IT! Not only is this a great place to network, it is also becoming a primary source for job postings and recruiting. Other social media platforms such as Twitter, Google+, and Facebook are also becoming useful tools. Twitter gives you timely information about new job postings and news. Google+ is still being developed but already has many unique features that could aid your search. Monster.com has released a professional networking application for Facebook called BeKnown.
LinkedIn is fast becoming a primary tool for employers to find talent. It features great ways for people to follow businesses, contact people within companies, and interact with other professionals. Because interaction is the key to developing great connections, it is also monumental to your job search. You can interact in a variety of ways on LinkedIn. For example, Email, wall postings, job postings, following companies, recommendations, endorsements, using apps to communicate, and groups. In this blog we will discuss some of the best practices for groups.
Through observations and conversations with professionals looking for jobs, I’ve discovered that groups seem to be neglected quite often. Groups should be high on any person’s list while looking for a job. They allow for you to learn about job postings, find out about events, interact with other group members, and information for professional development.
Here are some of the best ways to use groups to your advantage:
Interact with discussions: The best way to get noticed quickly is to interact with discussions. By participating you may make great connections. You want to also pick discussions that are about job opportunities and specific to the field in which you are trying to find work.
Find Groups that benefit your search: LinkedIn offers a huge variety of groups. They range from broad geographic groups to company specific groups. They are also divided by specific industries. You can join up to 50 groups. Pick those that will help your search. The best way to do this is to determine what types of jobs you would like to find and seek out these groups accordingly.
Contact group members: After you start interacting within a group, don’t be afraid to reach out to other group members. Send them an email and ask them if they might know of any job openings. Often times the influencers within these groups may know of places or people that will help you find that career you seek.
Post discussions: Nothing shows that you are in tune with your profession like posting a discussion related to your skill set. It is an easy way to show that you are an expert and assertive. Be careful when posting though. Each group has rules of what can be posted. Make sure that you adhere to these rules before you post.
Look at the job boards: Each group has a job postings tab. Within this tab group members can post jobs and job discussions. These postings may be for positions that you would not hear about otherwise.
These are just a few of the things that you can do to help promote yourself and get that elusive career. All groups are different, so make sure that you adhere to the rules of each group and pay attention to how people interact. Tailor your efforts by promoting yourself in a positive light and you will see some success.
If you are looking for a great group to get started join the Colorado Career Marketing group. This is a group that I started in order to provide tips and job postings to those in the job market.
Thinking about a career as an Administrative Professional (Admin)? If so, here are some qualities that are commonly sought out. Keep in mind that there may be other factors that weigh into a company’s decision when hiring an Admin, such as personality or whether you match a company culture.
Core Competences of a Great Administrative Professional:
Detail Oriented: Usually this might be considered organizational skills but I believe it is much broader. Do you have attention to detail all the time? Details matter when you are in an administrative role. You have to pay attention to schedules, proper ways to say things, organizing files, and keeping track of what people might be doing and when. If you’re not on top of this it might affect the overall efficiency of a company and thus lead to negatives in an organization from operations to sales.
Professional Presentation: An administrative professional is often the face of an enterprise. This means presentation must be consistent with the company image every day. An administrator sets the tone for the company and can positively or negatively impact its image by how it’s presented.
Dependability: Managers need to know that things are getting done correctly without micromanaging. They also need to know that their assistants will be their when they are needed and not complain when they are asked to go above and beyond. They are the tone setters to making everything go smooth so they must be dependable in these areas.
Technology, typing skills, and computer literacy: Learn and know as much as you can about technology and computer programs. Find out which programs are being used in the industries that you are targeting to be an administrator and make sure you are proficient. Administrators can become an even larger asset by staying up on new trends and programs to make the office more efficient.
Strong phone presence: A strong phone presence is the ability to articulate in a succinct way your point or part of the conversation. This person speaks slowly, clearly, and in a precise way.
These are some of the necessary core items for administrative professionals. It is up to the potential candidate or employee to meet the other specifics of a job. The key is to make sure you are a good match for the employer and yourself.
The holiday season is a fun time of year for most of us. Family, friends, shopping, football, and great food are just a few of the things we tend to enjoy. Chances are as an employee or as a manager you face decisions about time off and holiday vacations that allow those in an organization to enjoy these activities. With the exception of a couple days, business doesn’t stop in November and December. The dilemma is: How does a business keep operations going smoothly while still allowing for time off?
Plan Ahead: The key to any successful endeavor is planning ahead. Creating a calendar, a list of needs, and at what times of year you have these needs will help lay the foundation for what a company needs from its staff.
Look Internally: After a list is created to determine needs, allocating your current resources to cover these areas can be established. Do you have enough people with the correct skill sets to answer the phone, solve a technical issue, and manage overall operations? Chances are some of this can be done with current staff. There can also be a trap in doing this. You might have people doing things that they don’t normally do, so you want to make sure they are fully trained and can handle the tasks to your company’s expectation. Sacrificing business in November and December is no different than sacrificing business in July.
Look Externally: After you have charted out your needs and determined what resources you can allocate to cover tasks, you may decide it’s not enough to maintain your operation levels and customer experience. This is where external resources play a role. You could look at posting for positions and try to find help as a company. The problem with doing this during the holidays is you may not have the time or resources to do a thorough search and find these employees. The costs of doing an external search from within a company can be high. For many companies the best option, depending on the position, is to use a staffing or recruiting firm. These companies can get you the people you need extremely quick and actually save you money because of the opportunity costs involved with conducting your own search.
The key to having a successful holiday season at your business is to make sure you have the coverage that you need. Analyze where your company may be deficient and make decisions based on this. Spreading out internally might be the best option for your company. If not, using temporary employees may be another way to go. Just make sure that your decision doesn’t sacrifice the success of your company and the service you provide your customers.
Now that the holidays are upon us we all typically start to think about how we can give a little. Although this should be something we try and do throughout the entire year, it always seems to become a focus in November and December. BSI & BP2 (Bolder Staffing, Inc. & Bolder Professional Placements) partners with There With Care. This is an organization that supports and helps families facing critical illness. We would like to invite you to take a look at their website and determine if you would like to give in any way. Here are a couple ways to donate to There With Care and the links to more information:
Holiday Cards: There With Care sells holiday cards with proceeds going to families in need.
Recently, a question keeps getting asked to me: How do I look for a job on Twitter? For those of you not yet on the Twitter bandwagon, it is one of the largest social media sites available. Twitter is a micro blog network that is conducted in real time. This means that if a person or company has a job opening, they can tweet it immediately out to the entire world. Currently, Twitter is estimated to have more than 500 million users with 172 million active tweeters.[1] What this means to you is that there is an opportunity for you to hear about new job openings as they happen. Below I will give you a few tips on how to utilize twitter to maximize your job search time.
First and foremost you need to create a Twitter account which is simple to do by going to http://twitter.com. After you do this you may want to look into setting up another account with a 3rd party Twitter resource. This could be sites like http://manageflitter.com and http://hootsuite.com. These sites help you manage your connections and allow you to search various keywords and geographic locations. I’m not going to get into the details of using these sites but play around with them and learn them. They will be useful tools to your search.
Now that you have created an account, you have to find people to follow. I suggest creating a list of companies and industries that you would like to work for. Once you have this list search these areas on Twitter for not just the companies themselves but the employees within these companies. FOLLOW THEM! They will be your information source when jobs become available. Tip: Twitter provides a tool for search that isn’t found on the regular site homepage. Go to http://twitter.com/search/. This will help you narrow your search and save you time.
Follow hashtags (#)! For those of you not familiar with hashtags, they are basically a way to identify and participate in a specific topic. Anyone can create one and tag a tweet by using these. The benefit for you in your job search would be to find hashtags that people post jobs to in your area. This may be specific to geographic area or even an industry. A couple examples might be #denverjobs, #rubyjobs, or #manufacturingjobs.
Make sure you have clean social media accounts. As you’re searching for positions on Twitter, you may decide to apply for some. Once you start applying your online reputation becomes important. Make sure that anything you tweet or say in any of your social media’s is acceptable. Use the “would I want my Mom to see this test.”
This is just some tips on things that will help you as you tackle searching for work on Twitter. It’s a tool for your toolbox of job search channels. Feedback and more ideas are always welcome. What are some of your best practices?
BSI & BP2 would like to congratulate Tommie on becoming a full time employee with his company in the Westminster, Colorado area. Seeing this type of success is why we do what we do! Watch what Tommie has to say about Bolder Staffing, Inc.
The definition of a call center is a centralized office used for the purpose of receiving or sending a large volume of requests by telephone. An inbound call center is dedicated to administer incoming product support or information inquiries from consumers. Outbound call centers are typically operated for telemarketing, solicitation of charitable or political donations and debt collection.[1]
Many people view call centers as a negative place to work. Yes, it’s true sometimes the work can be a little repetitive. However, there are many reasons why a call center can be a great career choice.
Good Pay-
The average pay rate for a call center depends on the position to a certain extent. To generalize according to Salary.com, the pay rate for an entry level employee is roughly $30,000/yr. As a person works their way up the potential is to make much more. Becoming a supervisor or higher tiered employee can lead to $50,000 or even $60,000 per/yr.
Benefits-
Not all call centers, but most, offer a great deal of employee benefits. This includes healthcare, dental, and vision plans. In addition, they often include a retirement program of some sort. Many companies not in customer service cannot provide these types of benefits because of the high cost.
Rapid Advancement Opportunities-
Whether its on sales side, inbound, outbound, IT, or any other various roles in call centers, employees have a great opportunity to prove themselves. Most call centers also like to promote from within. So, after a person proves themselves they can move up quickly. Because call centers contain many departments, they also can provide opportunities in other expertise areas. Some companies will even provide extra training in these areas. Putting forth great effort with one of these companies will yield great reward.
Ease of being able to move-
An often overlooked benefit is the ease of being able to transfer to another location. A person might want to move to another city for various reasons. Many call centers have locations all over. This would allow for the employee to seamlessly transfer. It could also help provide more opportunity. Some of these locations may have other needs or have more advancement potential.
