Renoir Staffing Blog

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

Tweet

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

Tweet

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

Tweet

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

Tweet

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

Tweet

Temps often don’t get the respect they deserve and with the downturn of the economy, it is taking temporary employees much longer to secure a fulltime position.

However, if a temporary worker uses an assignment as a working interview very often they are invited back, or asked to stay at the assignment longer.

Here are some tips on how to be the perfect temp:

Do your homework: If you have been assigned a position, do some research on the management company and the property. A good resource is the local Apartment Guides that can be found free at supermarkets and other stores.  If time permits call the property and introduce yourself.

Show up and look good: It is very important to be on time or a bit early and always look professional!

Forget you’re a temp: While you are at the property you are part of the TEAM and you work for them on behalf of the agency.

Throw away your watch: Clock watchers irritate dedicated bosses and key team members.

Expect no support: Understand that people won’t have that much time. Just get the work done.

Be yourself: But try and fit in! If you think you like the idea of becoming a temp-to-perm employee, work well with the team. As a temp, everyone gets to see all of you, which is a good thing if you’re hoping they’ll offer you a job. People often get jobs based on personality. Through temping, people who wouldn’t normally get the job, get the job!

Heightened skills: Soft or hard, you need to have good skills. Seek extra training if your skills are not strong.

interviews:Interviews are a very forced thing.  Working as a temp-to-perm obviously gets you out of the interview traumas. Employees who start as temps are often people who stay at the job. You get an opportunity to establish whether the culture suits your personality.

Interview your bosses: One of the beauties of temp work is you have the chance to select your prospective employer. Working as a temp also gives companies the chance to “talent spot” you.

Eyes and ears: Keep your ears open if you hear someone say that they need something done, and then volunteer to do the job. Don’t bury yourself in your desk.

Think Solution: Nobody recruits a temp unless there’s a problem they need solving. You should behave as though you’re a solution to a problem they’ve got!

Think long-term: Your temporary boss might pop up elsewhere – perhaps in your next permanent job. Show interest in their business. Don’t say ‘I’m sorry, I’m a temp’ when you answer the phone.

Know your objectives: Is it to earn money, be valued or increase your network?  It could well be all three!

Impliment these tips and you’ll be well on your way to securing a job, permanently!

Karen Quennel, Recruiter

Tweet

Happiness has wide ranging effects- Like improving your motivation. A study shows that adults and children who are put into good mood select higher goals and perform better than those that are unhappy. The GREAT news is that recent scientific reports show your happiness level is something that can be increased with a minimum amount of effort and that a full 40% of your happiness level is completely within your control. You may have suffered unfortunate life events, but you get a clean 40% at YOUR command. Don’t you want to be happier and in a better mood?

The Myths of Happiness:

1.       Happiness is something we find. This is not true, so don’t wait around for a magical occurrence.

2.       Our circumstances determine our happiness. This is not true, so don’t think, “IF only this would happen, THEN I would be happy.”

3.       You either have it or you don’t. This is also not true. As you read above, you’ve got 40% to develop. You CAN make improvements.

Here are some simple tasks that anyone can do to improve their level of happiness:

1. Express Gratitude- You can tell others or you can write it down.

2. Avoid Over Thinking And Social Comparison- Cut down on how often you rethink your problems and compare yourself to others.

3. Practice Acts Of Kindness- Practice this at least once a day. Hold the door someone, give a compliment, etc. Putting a smile on someone’s face will naturally make you smile too.

4. Nurture Relationships- Spend time and energy in cultivating and enjoying a relationship, or healing an ailing relationship.

5. Develop Strategies for Coping- Practice ways to handle or get over stress, hardship, or trauma.

6. Learn To Forgive- Write a letter in which you try to let go of anger or resentment of someone. It’s necessary to write it, but NOT necessary to mail it.

7. Do More Activities That Truly Engage You- Get involved in something that really takes your mind away from things. Get in the “Flow Activities” – You know you’re in a flow when you lose track of time.

8. Savor Life’s Joys- Pay close attention and repay life’s momentary pleasures and wonders.

9. Commit To Your Goals- Pick one or several of your goals and devote time and effort to pursuing them.

10. Take Care Of Your Body- Engage in physical activity, meditating, smiling, laughing and some “ME” time.

Being happy with yourself will reflect on your work and at home so put a smile on your face and don’t worry yourself with things that you have no control of.

“Smile- it’s the most generous thing you can do and an inexpensive way to improve your mood”

Maria Torres, Staffing Associate

Tweet

This week check out the newly released Renoir Staffing newsletter! We’ve had a busy summer this year: new office and recruiter, amazing events, and great new clients who love our rock star employees!

Check it out here: Renoir Newsletter

The team at Renoir Staffing would like to thank all the clients and candidates that make this company the leader in the real estate staffing industry-we appreciate you!

Tweet

As a recruiter, an important part of my job is to find the best candidates that I can and to screen out the “undesirables.”  Companies don’t reach out to a staffing  agency unless they are in desperate need of help; many times immediate help.  With that knowledge, it’s critical that the candidates I work with not only have the skills necessary to jump in and give the relief that is needed, but are actually going to show up and work.  Sounds pretty basic and easy, but unfortunately it isn’t as easy as it might seem.  Even in today’s economy where I hear comments  all the time that I must have people coming out of my ears because the unemployment rate is so high, it’s not a whole lot easier to find really good, qualified, and reliable candidates.

We at Renoir Staffing take pride in the fact that we meet every single person that we work with, and I’m not talking about a 5 minute meet and greet;  we spend at least an hour with each potential candidate prior to making the decision of whether or not to represent them.  And, this is after we have reviewed their resume and done a phone screen to get an initial “feel” for them.  So, how do I screen out the good from the not-so–good?  Well, the first thing that makes an impression is when do they show up for the interview; are they early, barely on time, or late (and if they are late, did they call me ahead of time to let me know what’s going on)?  I have to assume that the way they approach the interview will be the way they approach any assignment I might send them on.  During the interview, there are many key things that I pay attention to.  One is all of the non-verbal cues:  how do they greet me (do they shake my hand and smile and look me in the eye?), how is their appearance (are they dressed appropriately? how is their hygiene?), what is their posture when they are sitting in my chair, do they look me in the eye when they’re talking to me, do they sit still, or are they constantly shifting when I ask them a question?  Then there are the verbal cues.  I ask open-ended questions and then just let them talk.  You can find out a lot when you let someone say anything they want – good and bad.  Based on what they say, I ask for clarification or ask more specific questions.  Sometimes that’s when you really find out where the truth lies.  For example, when I interview someone for a maintenance position, I hear a lot of “if it’s broken, I can fix it.”  It’s not until I dive in do I learn that “well, I can do minor repairs, but nothing too complicated.”  I listen to their tone of voice and level of confidence.  I also pay attention to if what they’re telling me seems truthful (I’ve interviewed people who couldn’t keep their story straight).  I also watch for their reaction when I talk to them about references and our very thorough background check.  Sometimes what they don’t say is just as important as what they do say.

I believe interviewing is an art that takes years of practice in order to learn all of the clues and things that should trigger a red flag. Even then, no matter how hard you try to dig up any dirt or skeletons, there will be some that will slip through the cracks.  Just like a lot of other things in this world, interviewing is a numbers game.  You just have to have enough candidates in your pool to make sure the odds are in your favor.

Colleen White,  Recruiter

Tweet

As a staffing professional for almost 15 years, I have noticed many changes in the staffing industry over the years.  What hasn’t changed is the fact that companies have always come to rely on utilizing staffing services to fulfill many short-term and even long-term staffing needs.  While the staffing industry has had to respond to the various economic changes over the years, there has always been a need for companies to rely on flexible staffing solutions to respond to their ever-changing employment requirements. For example, there were over 2.2 million temporary jobs created in July 2011. And for over 25 years, Renoir Staffing has been the premier staffing resource for property management companies in finding employment opportunities for many of the industry’s top talent.

The most common needs for staffing help are to cover for vacation, employment leave, and/or when there is a vacant position.  During a recession, it is not uncommon for many companies to reach out to staffing agencies to look for qualified candidates to fill full-time positions on a temporary-to-hire basis.  With an increase demand for work productivity but less staffing resources, the need for temporary help becomes much more popular.  This option allows both the employer and the employee to evaluate if there is a mutual fit.  Staffing firms like Renoir Staffing can prove to be a good resource to provide this type of solution.  This is even more common with specialized staffing firms such as Renoir as it is more challenging for companies to find the top industry talent due to such a competitive market.   So remember that a temporary assignment could lead to greater chances for a longer term opportunity and always put your best foot forward.

So what has changed?

With the advantages in technology and the social media buzz, it is becoming much more common for staffing firms to utilize social media sites as Facebook and LinkedIn to network, promote and advertise open positions and, most importantly, RECRUIT!!  While the use of job boards and company websites prove to still be one of the most traditional ways that companies look for qualified candidates, social media has proven to be an easier and more effective ways to reach out to the candidate marketplace.  LinkedIn is the most widely used as a professionally-based method to get and stay connected.   We at Renoir recommend that our candidates create and update their LinkedIn profiles in order to be more attractive to potential employers.  Remember this is the best way to advertise and summarize skills, experience, accomplishments, and allow potential employers to assess an individuals’ qualifications if they are looking to fill an open position. It can also be a better method to highlight some of your other professional achievements, showcase your talent, show what industry associations you are involved in, and review employment recommendations.  Referrals are always the best way to get your foot in the door so make sure to always  ask for colleagues to add recommendations on your profile.

Conversely, LinkedIn is a wonderful way to find out more about companies and allow individuals the opportunity to evaluate the company profile that lists executive management, vision and mission statements, employee profiles, and even a link to the company website for further discovery. Remember, job seekers need to research the companies that they might be interested in working for as well so LinkedIn becomes one of the best ways to find out more than what a typical website might offer.

In addition, joining groups on LinkedIn provides a wonderful way for individuals to network, learn more about trends of a company or industry, and even participate in group discussions and blogs.   It’s all about NETWORKING!!!

While Facebook is most commonly used for personal connections, it has recently introduced a platform called BeKnown in partnership with Monster to allow Facebook users to distinguish between personal and professional contacts.  While still relatively new, it seems to allow the over 500 million active users on Facebook to have a professional exchange that is separate from the personal outlet that most users look to this site to provide them.   Most companies, including Renoir Staffing, utilize their company profile on Facebook  as a way to share fun stories, industry highlights, and news and information for its’ clients and employees.

Staffing firms like Renoir are in the business of finding people jobs, and good jobs at that. The bridge between the old and new ways of recruiting has been very exciting for the staffing industry as a whole. We are in a very unique position to leverage our expertise with the old and new ways of finding talent.  Here at Renoir Staffing, we take pride in utilizing many various resources to reach out to candidates in the property management field to connect them with great companies in the industry that are hiring. Companies come to Renoir because they trust that we can find them the employees that they need.  Through the use of creative and innovative methods to seek out these individuals, it’s one of the reasons Renoir has been the most successful property management staffing firm in the Bay Area.

The following resources were used in the research for this blog:

http://www.staffingindustry.com/Research-Publications/Daily-News/BLS-U.S.-Temp-Employment-Flat-in-July

http://www.staffingindustry.com/site/Research-Publications/Publications/SI-Review/August-2011/Social-Media

Arisha Williams, Manager of Staffing Services

Tweet