Renoir Staffing Blog

Is your office ready to take on the New Year? We found an excellent website, Valen’s Point (www.valenspoint.com), and we had to share with you their tips on how to make 2012 the most productive and prosperous year yet! Here are their 4 recommendations in improving your business ventures this year:

1. Review Current Projects:

Capture lessons learned, customer stories, and case studies. Review and take note of any negative experiences that may have occurred and brainstorm ways to correct these problems before they happen again. The value of your business is in the stories and experience of your best projects and customers.

2. Survey customers to measure satisfaction and look for opportunity:

It is best practice to conduct periodic customer satisfaction in order to address issues or validate your process. Understanding their level of satisfaction and why they continue to do business with you is necessary input for your strategy and plans.

3. Update your business plans.

Be specific with your plans and establish the actions and the measurements you can use to gauge success. Your marketing plan should include the development of content, execution of seasonal programs, and advertisements.

4. Update your referral marketing system resources with current material:

Referrals drive many small businesses and word of mouth advertisement is a significant means of business growth. Optimizing your referral marketing system begins with delivering a remarkable experience and being referral-worthy.

By mapping out the year and taking care in the execution towards accomplishing goals, you can successfully make 2012 an excellent year for your business! Remember that Renoir Staffing is here to provide you with the best temporary and direct-hire employees in the property management industry, which can leave you worry-free to focus on your year’s goals while keeping your business running smoothly.

Here’s to a great new year!

Maria Torres, Staffing Associate

You can find the complete article on Valen’s Point by clicking on the following link: Checklist! Planning and preparing for the New Year

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Education is ongoing and has no boundaries to what is obtainable. Some of us prepared through high school what would be our career choice and obtained a college degree in our field of choice. Some may have stumbled into our professions while pursuing other areas of work. And passion may have driven others into meaningful fields of endeavor.

While all of us have been educated through various trainings that shaped our careers, there is always opportunity to enhance upon what we already know.

New process and procedures dictate that we re-educate ourselves continuously in order to stay marketable; personally and professionally. Our economy dictates that we become octopus-like creatures, being able to perform masterfully in various areas of skill in order to maintain our careers and manage our financial stability which in turn continues or enhances our quality of life.

As the New Year quickly approaches, look at what your current position is; is there room for improvement where you are? Are you financially satisfied? Could you be bored and have been complacent about looking at other opportunities where you can grow? What can you do to challenge yourself at work in order to grow?

Challenge yourself to learn something new in the coming year. It will take you as far as your vision will allow. Make 2012 a year for stimulating and fulfilling yourself intellectually.

To the New Year,

JoElla Barkus, Accounting Assistant

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As we head into a weekend of celebrating family and friends, and preparing for the New Year shortly thereafter, we’ve been reflecting on the history of the company. 2012 is Renoir Staffing’s 27th year in the property management industry, and the company’s path to present time has been quite exciting.

On October 31, 1985 Carol Kotewicz-Dencker started Renoir Staffing Services, Inc. to offer the highest level of service to the property management industry. By 1996, Carol had opened Sacramento Office and the company reached its’ first million dollars in revenue. From that point on, Renoir Staffing continued to prosper and grow, receiving such honors as Largest Woman-Owned Business and Fastest-Growing Private Company from the Business Journal Lists.

In 2010, Kotewisz-Denker retired and sold the company to Blue Lake Rancheria, and we became an LLC. With the new company Renoir opened up two new offices: the Phoenix office in 2010 and Newport Beach in August 2011. It’s been exciting for us to expand our services within the industry and we take our responsility to be relied upon as a leader in staffing seriously. We’re happy to do so too!

2011 has been a year of growth and evolution for Renoir Staffing, and after spending time with our candidates and clients this year, we have noticed that others have experienced these trends as well. A common opinion has been one of excitement. They’re preparing for the future: beefing up their skill-set and expanding the role of their position, or making plans for their property’s community. 2012 appears to be the year of action, and it’s no different for us.

We’ll be busy listening to the needs of the industry and responding with stellar service. We’ll also be offering the tools the industry’s leaders need to grow their own businesses, namely employees that are the best the area has to offer. And we’ll continue and expand our role in finding highly qualified candidates great jobs in their fields. This is why we’re excited for the New Year!

We’d like to wish you a very Happy Holiday season and thank you for being a part of Renoir Staffing’s growth and evolution. May you experience joy and prosperity in the New Year!

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The Team at Renoir Staffing with special thanks to Carol Martinez for providing historical reference of the company.

Growing up I was always very good in math and it was actually one of my favorite subjects in school. When most students were taking art and music and other fun elective courses I was taking any and all types of math courses for my electives. I ventured into taking an accounting class in the 12^th grade and I knew then that was what I wanted to do. After graduating high school I took some accounting courses at a junior college. It was at this point that I realized accounting was what I wanted to do for sure and decided to enroll at Heald Business College.

After graduating, I had the privilege to work for some very good companies that allowed me to use the skills that I learned. Not only did I have the opportunity to utilize my skills but I worked with a lot of people that were willing to teach me areas of accounting that I didn’t know. That is probably where most of my knowledge in accounting comes from; on the job training and people that had confidence in me to teach me more. I know there is still plenty more for me to learn and I will continue to learn through education from accounting courses and asking how and why.

It’s always important to keep in mind that through work experience you can broaden your skills set and uncover new areas in your field of interest that you find interesting!

La Terra Francis, Accounting Manager

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It has always been said that it is ‘who you know’ that helps someone get a job.  That theory has not changed. In fact, it is even more important now in our current job market.  Hiring managers sift through so many resumes that it is easy for them to skip over yours, even if you are qualified for the position.  But knowing who should receive your resume and/or who to call to speak with, may greatly increase your chances of getting an interview, or the best result, a job!  Seeking an experienced recruiter, in the specific field you work in, can be the answer to your current job search.

Not all recruiters have the perfect job for you or even have open positions, but what recruiters do have are contacts.  Take Renoir Staffing for example, I have been here for six years and I am pretty sure I know most of the regional managers with each company by now.  I know the decision makers, who hires, what positions are most commonly available in their company, I even know if their employees are happy or not!   Not only can I help push you in the right direction, I can also take a look at your resume and make sure it has all the points that a hiring manager wants to see.

I have many job seekers that utilize me just for questions and answers, and that’s okay, too.  In the end, networking is one of the best ways to implement the old saying, “It’s who you know.”  So if you find yourself struggling to get interviews or knowing who to follow up with, contact a recruiter in your field and see where it takes you!

Lia Lovelady, Recruiter

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When you think of the all the ingredients that make an employee stellar in performance and valuable in character, what comes to mind?  A person who is punctual, appropriately dressed for his or her position, or perhaps someone who is goal-oriented, striving for success and is passionately eager to work all day and every day?  Personally, I think of all of the above and more.

Here at Renoir Staffing, it is our goal to maintain a wealth of eclectic top talent in the field of Property Management.  Therefore, when we encounter an employee who has strived above and beyond our expectation, we like to take the time to properly recognize them.  It is with pleasure that I highlight Renzo Acosta for his superb performance on any assignment he has committed to, his consistent dedication to following through in his work from start to finish, and the professional demeanor of which he dons to wow our clients at any given chance.

In February of 2011, we had the pleasure of interviewing Renzo and placing him out to work with our clients.  Since that time, Renzo has worked in different environments alongside a variety of people and has managed to remain professionally poised in each situation.  When on assignment, Renzo has a very positive attitude and gives 100% effort while adhering to both Renoir Staffing’s and the client’s policies and procedures.  His flexibility and willingness to help when needed on the job is very apparent as well as his ability to communicate effectively.  He also has a great sense of urgency to complete important tasks which speaks to his ability to manage his time wisely.  Furthermore, if he is presented with questionable tasks or when he is not quite clear of the expectations of his assignment, Renzo let’s his recruiter know and seeks clarity.

In totality, Renzo is a stellar employee.  His capacity to combine a positive approach to each assignment with professionalism, tact, respect for his duties as well as coworkers, and his can-do attitude speaks volumes.

Renzo Acosta we honor you!  Renoir Staffing sincerely looks forward to witnessing your continued professional growth and successes with our organization.  Cheers and keep up the great work!

Wakema Ligons, Staffing Associate

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One of the best ways in which you can succeed as a staffing professional is to attend industry events. They are empowering and give great insight into current industry trends and up-to-date sales strategies. Simple run an internet search on your industry along with ‘associations’ and you’ll see the many options you’ll have to choose from! In regards to property management, California Apartment Association (CAA) and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) are two examples of the excellent associations available to become a member with and grow your skill-set.

As Renoir Staffing’s San Francisco recruiter, I highly recommend California Staffing Professionals (CSP). They offer a wide array of services including an Annual Conference and their upcoming Staffing Owners Retreat. To view their upcoming events calendar, visit their website at www.cspnet.org.

Another great resource for training in staffing sales is Barbara Bruno. She has over 25 years of successful staffing experience and her webinars (another great and affordable resource!) can improve your “game” significantly! Sign up at www.recruitertraining.net.

Whether your work in staffing or many of the other sales industries out there, events, online training, and being a member of an association, can strengthen your sales skills and increase the level of success you enjoy from your career!

Theresa Cannon, Recruiter

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One of the primary reasons for Renoir’s success is that we truly care about our employees and the companies that we serve. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Because of our thorough screening process and our recruiting teams’ ability to ask the questions that will help us identify what our employees and clients need, we can take pride in the fact that we have been successful in making great employment matches. Renoir also has a strong value system that we live by both as part of our internal culture and in how we treat those that we assist in the employment market. Our ability to stay true and consistent in our business practices as part of this value system helps us to continually be recognized as one of Northern California’s premier property management and real estate staffing firms. With intrinsic values that we live and operate by such as integrity, teamwork, accountability, professionalism, quality, dedication, and respect, companies can depend on us to be there when they need us.

The success that we have had over the past 25 years has now laid a strong foundation for our expansion into Southern California with offices now in Phoenix, Arizona and Newport Beach, CA.  Since we have built a strong reputation of meeting the staffing needs of our customers and forging solid business relationships, our referral network will make for a very easy and logical transition to these new markets. With the expertise and resources to not only evaluate but effectively respond what our customers and candidates day-to-day challenges are, we can be confident that we will continue the success we have had in Northern California to a client base in Southern California and Arizona as well.

We are considered the ultimate resource for employment matchmaking as we take the time to really understand the needs of the candidates that we represent and the client companies that we serve.  It is with our commitment to strive to be the best of the best and to execute on the delivery of our service offerings that Renoir Staffing will continue to uphold its’ long-time reputation of being the most reliable option for responding to the demands of employment challenges in the property management and real estate industry.

Arisha Williams, Manager of Staffing Services

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Many Recruiters have chosen their job because they love customer service and making people happy. On top of that, the job is extremely fulfilling as they are putting people who are often financially struggling to work!  However, it’s a position that is demanding: recruiters jump through hoops every day, multi-tasking like mad to make our client’s and candidate’s lives easier. Unfortunately, they catch a lot of flak from job seekers, who often wonder what their recruiter does all day. This week’s blog will be illuminating to all who wonder what it would be like to be a recruiter for a day!

“The race against time is what will make or break a recruiter.” This quote, included in an article for CareerDFW (see link at the bottom of this blog) describes perfectly what unfolds each and every day for a recruiter: a race. And in order to be successful, crossing the finish line must mean that a relationship has been built, either with a client or a candidate. Recruiters that do temporary placement have the added task of maintaining these relationships perfectly with their clients so that they are relied upon to fix an emergency situation at a property. Trust is key. Therefore, relationship-building is not something that can be achieved with automated systems. And it starts with the candidate. Once a recruiter begins to represent an employee, regular weekly communication to maintain their relationship is important. Employee satisfaction, including trust and loyalty, are built into the relationship over a period of successful assignments, but even before assignments begin, it is important for a candidate to understand their role in building a relationship with their recruiter.

To begin, a once a week check-in call is a perfect opportunity for a job seeker to update their contact information and stay fresh in the minds of their recruiter. It takes an average of 15-30 and is an invaluable way for a recruiter to get to know their candidate. Unfortunately, often candidates will call their recruiters but neglect to leave a message. Messages are documented, another great way to showcase your interest in being placed on assignment. Keep in mind, however, that candidates may not get a return call until the next day. Try not to let the frustration set in. The popular statement, “there is never enough time in a day,” is a reality for most recruiters. To build a rapport between job seeker and recruiter takes trust. To gain trust, takes time. Patience and communication will get you far with a staffing agency.

Here’s a quick glimpse at the duties of a recruiter: time sheets, schedules, assignment extensions, interviewing, referral calls, payroll issues, file compliance, renewals and complaints requiring additional problem solving, as well as going out in the field and bringing in more business.  Approximately 50% of these tasks will be pre-scheduled in advance and the other 50% will be unplanned and worked into the week as needed. Again, communication combined with patience is the most important ingredient for a successful relationship with busy recruiters!

Keep in mind we open the door for you as a new face to the client. Once we get you that interview or temporary assignment, it is ultimately the candidate’s job to prove that they are the person for that job, whether it is for one day or is a direct-hire opportunity! The candidate’s behavior is a direct reflection on the recruiter’s ability to weed out poor employees, bringing us back to skillful relationship-building. The more a candidate participates in the process, the more a recruiter will gain the trust needed to put them on assignment. As a recruiter, one must be very proactive and personable, meaning that they are always on the phone! It is wise for candidates to remember this tip: please be patient and keep in mind the service you give to your recruiter is the service you will get in return.

Connie White, Recruiter

Special thanks to CareerDFW.org for the following article: A Day in the Life of a Recruiter

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Working in the Staffing Industry we are often asked how one can “move up” with a company. Being that many of the positions we staff are entry-level and/or temporary positions, this is a very relevant question. Here are some tips that I believe can help get you to the next level in your career.

• Research the Company – If you’re going to an interview or a temporary assignment, find out more about the company. Most companies have websites where you can find a good deal on information.

• Dress the Part  – Even if you’re not required to. Dressing the part shows that you’re serious and that you want to portray a professional image of yourself and the company that you’re working for. It is always important to be professional, no matter how casual the workplace.

• Ask Questions – Make sure that you are clear on tasks that you are assigned. It’s better to ask questions than to assume you’re doing something correctly.

• Develop Relationships- Your co-workers, especially those in management positions, are great resources for both information and networking. Learn from them!

• Take Initiative – If you have completed the task at hand, ask for more to do. If there is no one to ask, look for projects that can be done. Organizing the supply cabinet, cleaning, filing, etc. There is always something to do. Also, don’t be hesitant learning new skills! Developing your skill-set will not only expand your horizons, it is a great way to practice initiative and will be looked at positively by your employers.

• Volunteer for Special Projects – Supervisors usually appreciate people with a can-do attitude. This also demonstrates that you are a team player, something companies place a lot of value upon, especially when it comes to senior positions.

• Don’t Give Up – It can take months or even years to get into the role that you truly desire. But being consistent in your efforts for the betterment of the company and the team will not go unnoticed. Plus, as an added bonus, the better the work translates to a healthier workplace that everyone enjoys! Hard work and perseverance pay off.

One thing I always tell candidates is that working through a staffing agency is a great way to “test” different companies. Even the one day or short-term assignments can give you a sense of what a company is about. It’s a great way to find out which companies you’d be interested in on a permanent basis.

The following links are for two articles covering the steps to promotion which not only helped in the construction of this blog, but also delve further into the subject:

The Best Ways to Get Promoted

Moving Up the Ladder

Now go forth and land that promotion!

Erin Gilligan, Staffing Associate

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