On Behalf of All StormStaff Employees, We Wish You Happy Holidays and a Safe and Prosperous New Year!

When it comes to work, what are YOU thankful for? With the sluggish economy and job outlook uncertain, those of us who are employed can all say we’re thankful to have jobs at all this holiday season. For those looking for work, gains in temporary employment over the holidays may spark a glimmer of hope and staff gains in the New Year may provide a perfect opportunity to re-enter the workforce.

We decided to ask our very own employees what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving and we found that an overwhelming number of our staff give thanks for those individuals who make up a “home away from home” – the TEAM of co-workers around them! Considering we spend more time with our co-workers during the week than we do with our families, working well with a team can play a huge role in the happiness and success of individuals in the workplace.

We understand the importance of having a good team, down to our very own SkillStorm and StormStaff Core Values which include “Team Members: We never let them down. We help them at every turn.” We hold our team members to the highest regard, and that’s probably one of the reasons we were voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the South Florida Business Journal, one of the top 100 “Best Companies to Work For in Florida” by the Florida Trend and nominated for a “Best Places to Work” award by both the San Diego and Orlando Business Journals.

What did our employees have to say? Here are some of our Thanksgiving highlights:

Thanksgiving always makes me think of family and what I’m most thankful for this season is working for a company where the people really are like a family.  From our annual pre-Thanksgiving pot-luck feast to a simple pick-me-up cup of coffee, my co-workers go the extra mile for each other, in both big and small ways.  A lot of people out there this year are thankful for having a job at all, but I’m thankful that it’s THIS job with THESE co-workers, because I wouldn’t want it any other way. - Ariana T., Project Manager

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my office team. Being in my first job out of college, my team has showed me the work ethic desire and determination it takes to be successful in this business or any other venture in my life. I have several mentors in the office who come from different backgrounds in the industry and who are always willing to sit and talk with me regarding strategy, process and success stories. I know that with my team, I will never be let down, and they hold me accountable for my part as well. Plus, we do hold the stormy for a year! - Kris E., Technical Recruiter

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful to work with such an amazing team of individuals. Every one of my co-workers encourages success at all levels and our office feels like a family. I am grateful to work for SkillStorm! – Amber A., Executive Assistant

First off, I am thankful for being able to work in such a great office for a great boss who lets me work outside of the box. Also I am thankful for being able to find a company that has allowed me to grow from the person that started here two years ago and attain so much success in my career. – Luke B., Technical Recruiter

This Thanksgiving I’m thankful to work with such a stellar group of people. No matter how many questions I ask or how many problems I run into, they are there—ready and willing to help with whatever I need. I couldn’t ask for a better team and I’m continually thankful to be a part of it. – Sara F., Delivery Manager

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my team members here in the San Diego office that help me at every turn and never let me down! – Maya B., Technical Recruiter

We want to know: what are you thankful for?

From our staff to you – StormStaff would like to wish everyone enjoy a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Did you know Americans spend nearly a quarter of their time online frequenting social networking sites and blogs? It is apparent that these sites have streamlined into all parts of life, including the workplace. More and more employers are turning to these sites for help in the hiring process, forever changing the face of the working world.

This whitepaper will address how employers use these sites to obtain a more well-rounded view of job candidates, the effects of social networks on the current workplace, concerns associated with the use of social networking sites for both employers and employees alike and tips on how job candidates can make their online profiles employer-friendly.

For your copy of the whitepaper, click here.

What are the qualities of a best friend? Someone who’s always there to help you? Someone who shares your interests? How about someone who can land you a job and help you make lots of money?! Well, your best friend may not be able to do that last one, but I know someone who can…. look no further than the recruiter who’s just a phone call away!

Now I’m not talking about a replacement for that lifetime comrade of yours, what I mean is your best career friend. Joining forces with a recruiter can make your chances of finding your next career opportunity grow by leaps and bounds. That’s because when you choose to work with a recruiter, you’re actually choosing your new best friend for your career! How so?

First off, recruiters can act as your inside source. These individuals stay informed and “on top of their game” because part of their job is to keep up on all of the latest hiring and industry trends and happenings. What’s more, another part of their job is to be directly connected to hiring managers. Recruiters know of positions and openings that aren’t even posted anywhere, so they’ve got the inside scoop and a foot in the door.

Just like your best friend may tell you that one size does not actually fit all, recruiters will pretty much do the same for your career. A recruiter will be straightforward on what kinds of positions are available to you, based especially on your skills and experience. Just remember, they first need to have a clear idea of the details such as what you are looking for, how far you will travel for work, what you are willing to do, etc. Once they’ve got this information, you will find that the recruiter can be your best ally. This is one reason why it’s so important to keep the lines of communication with your recruiter open.  These individuals are willing to do everything in their power to find you the best position out there, so the more details you provide them, the better their search for your perfect position will be.

After recruiters know what you want, then it’s their turn to get you a place with the “in” crowd. Who might that be? Hiring managers galore! You see, recruiters have the connections you need to succeed. Giving you a direct line to hiring managers can save you time and stress. If you’re looking to beat out stiff competition for your dream job, a recruiter is the perfect wingman for getting you noticed.

You may also find yourself needing some reassurance during the job hunt, and that’s okay. Recruiters can provide this in the form of proofreading your resume and other hiring materials. Another set of eyes will ensure your resume and the cover letter are error-free. Of course, it is always recommended that you give your recruiter application materials that have minimal errors to begin with. That way, the recruiter will be able to pick up on any small snags and not necessarily rewrite all of your information.

Now imagine if your best friend got you the chance to interview for the job of your dreams and THEN went a step further and helped you prep for your interview too? This is the goal of the recruiter – to help you with every step of the way! Recruiters work with their candidates to go over things like possible interview questions, wardrobe options, company research and plenty of tips and tricks prior to an interview. That’s because they want to make sure the candidate is as prepared as possible when interview time comes around. Some recruiters (such as those who work at StormStaff) even personally walk candidates in to interviews to make sure the first impression and meeting go seamlessly. Then, recruiters go a step further by calling after the interview to see how everything went!

In the end, recruiters want to build a long-lasting and meaningful relationship with all of their candidates. These individuals want to help their candidates reach their career goals and find positions they will thrive in. Just like a best friend, these recruiters just want to make their candidates happy and put their needs first!

If you’re interested in learning more about working with our recruiters, visit our careers page here.

Thanks to our fellow Tweeters @CareerBuilder and @CBforJobSeekers I came across an article that reveals almost 25 percent of job seekers plan to use a recruiter in the next quarter, according to CareerBuilder’s quarterly Staffing Supply and Demand Outlook.

Other relevant information from the study reveals (as taken from CareerBuilder):

• Of those not currently using a staffing firm, more than half indicate they would if they were still searching three months from now.
• 34 percent of job candidates in the technical, IT and scientific sector continue to be most open to utilizing a staffing firm in their job search.
• 13 percent of hiring managers say they expect to use a staffing firm over the next three months.
• Of those managers, nearly one-in-10 expect to utilize a staffing firm to help in their search for full-time employees in the upcoming months.
• Six percent of hiring managers expect to utilize a staffing firm to help fill temporary or contract positions in the upcoming quarter.

StormStaff can help in your job search. We work with our professional candidates in the administrative, clerical and financial fields. If you are interested in searching our job postings, visit our website. You’ll also find more information about our services to help get your job search off to a successful start!

For more information on the survey results, visit The Work Buzz: the CareerBuilder.com Job Seeker Blog.

On Wednesday, Staffing Industry Analysts released survey results asking staffing companies how often candidates decline an assignment. According to the results, the median candidate decline rate is 11 to 15 percent. Those representing the healthcare industry reported the highest decline rate with a median in the 21 to 25 percent range. Meanwhile, business services ranked low on the spectrum, reporting a rate of decline at only 6 to 10 percent.

According to the report:

“Staffing firms primarily serving the business services… report the lowest rates of candidate decline.”

Another article in BusinessWeek reported that the business and professional services industry currently holds the second highest number of available jobs employers can’t fill. It seems companies are actively seeking qualified candidates but can’t seem to recruit the qualified talent or fit for their organizations.

So, what could all of this mean for staffing companies specializing in business services and the clients they serve? Well, it certainly means that both sides stand with much to gain.

First off, research shows that candidates specializing in business services aren’t likely to decline a position offered to them. Using a staffing company with a high level of expertise, resources, commitment and personal approach will certainly achieve favorable results.

Secondly, companies say they are facing trouble filling positions and claim they are “actively recruiting but so far have been unable to fill.” If these organizations use expert staffing companies, they will receive assistance from recruiters who know exactly what they are looking for and are true experts in finding the right fit for the right position. Recruiters find the high-quality, top talent candidates that companies want and need. Organizations that use staffing companies can save valuable time and money in meeting these demands.

Recent contracts for StormStaff!

• StormStaff recently provided file clerk support to Euro VAT, a Los Angeles based financial services firm, specializing in assisting North American companies in managing Value Added Tax (VAT) reclaims and registrations worldwide.

• StormStaff is now offering indefinite delivery of administrative and accounting temporary employees to MaxLinear, a rapidly growing integrated circuits company focusing on highly-integrated analog products that incorporate proprietary mixed-signal and radio frequency signal processing techniques in complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS). The company is located in Carlsbad, CA with sales offices in Shenzhen, China; Tokyo, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan and Seoul, South Korea.

• StormStaff recently provided support in the Account Receivables Collection department for Allegis Residential Services, a full-service property management company, providing administrative, accounting, building and maintenance services to over 5,000 homes in San Diego County.

• StormStaff recently recruited a Vice President of Human Resources for NuVasive, based in San Diego. NuVasive is a medical device company focused on the design, development, and marketing of products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders.

• StormStaff is now providing accounting and administrative support to Metric Engineering. This company is one of the leading providers of transportation engineering services in Florida with 15 locations throughout the state.

• StormStaff placed a receptionist at RedChip Companies in Orlando Florida. RedChip is an international, small-cap research and financial public relations firm with offices in Florida, Quingdao and Paris, and affiliates in Atlanta and New York. The company provides high-quality, small-cap research and investor conferences.