Posts

employee engagement lpc staffing agency

How Working With a Staffing Agency Can Ensure Employee Engagement

/in , , , /by

Keeping employees engaged and motivated at work isn’t always a walk in the park – in fact, around 85% of employees have reported that they don’t feel engaged at work. It often takes some trial and error to find the right combination of tactics that work for your team. Placing a focus on onboarding, celebrating achievements and building a strong workplace culture are all ways that an employer can do to encourage engagement. However, working with a staffing agency is step one in building a team that comes to work every day excited and motivated.

 

Engaged employees are more profitable, more productive and note higher job satisfaction, all of which make a manager’s job that much easier. For these reasons, it is in every employer’s best interest to take it into consideration.

 

Here are some of the ways that working with a staffing agency can ensure your staff is engaged.

 

Candidate Experience

 

A positive professional experience starts during the recruitment process. Candidates that have a good experience while working with a recruiter are not only going to be better prepared and equipped for the job, but they will go into the position with a positive mindset and will be more likely to feel engaged.

 

Candidates that have a bad taste in their mouths from the recruitment experience could potentially carry a negative attitude into the position, making it harder for employers to motivate them. Working with a staffing agency that creates positive and memorable experiences for every job seeker that walks through their doors is key in laying the groundwork for their workplace engagement.

 

Finding the Right Candidates

 

One of the biggest contributors to low employee engagement is when workers aren’t well-suited (or interested) for the position they have been hired for. However, if you don’t have the time or resources to find, interview and hire quality candidates yourself, this can often be the reality.

 

Staffing agencies go out of their way to source and screen candidates that are qualified and eager to work, and will never place a candidate in a position that they aren’t a good fit for. Specialized agencies know their specific industries inside and out, and understand what qualities are needed for a truly successful match. Having qualified and hardworking candidates on your team are not only more likely to contribute to a more engaged and motivated workforce, but they can also help improve your bottom line – it’s a win-win!

 

employee engagement lpc

 

Temporary Workers Can Bring Enthusiasm

 

If your current employees have lost their motivation or enthusiasm at work, bringing in some temporary staff can help breathe new life into a project. Sometimes, a little bit of redistribution of talent is exactly what a workplace needs to get re-engaged. Whether that means bringing in temporary employees for a special project so that your full-time staff can focus, or integrating some temporary employees into your team to revitalize the work environment, temp workers can play a role in boosting employee engagement.

 

Staffing agencies like LPC are well-versed in both permanent and temporary employment. Whatever your specific needs are, you can be sure that we can find the right solution to make your workplace as successful as possible.

 

They Can Act as Consultants

 

Recruiters do much more than simply place candidates into positions – they are well-rounded job search professionals! Fostering a relationship with a staffing agency means you have seasoned veterans in your network who can offer you advice, not only pre-hire, but post-hire as well.

 

Recruiters are happy to provide ongoing guidance for both job seekers and employers, long after they have completed the hiring process. Remember: recruiters have extensive knowledge in the industry and have close relationships with candidates. This means they can typically offer employers some valuable insight in regards to what candidates need in a work setting in order to feel supported and engaged.

 

LPC Personnel has been staffing the Greater Houston Area for over 30 years and are experts in making positive, long-lasting placements in a variety of industries. If you are looking to add some talent to your team, don’t hesitate to reach out today!

 

Find your Job
     
Request a Talent

cover-letter

Do’s and Don’ts of Writing an Effective Cover Letter

/in , , , /by

The next time you are searching for a job, make sure you have all your bases covered. In addition to having a strong resume outlining your work experience and qualifications, it’s important to include a cover letter with your application in order to stand apart from the crowd.

 

A cover letter is meant to give the hiring manager an idea of who you are, why you are interested in the job in question, and why you think you can do the job well. Many people have debated the necessity of cover letters. However, even if the position does not mention including a cover letter, you should get into the habit of writing one for every job anyway. It is an easy way to demonstrate your interest in the position and shows that you have taken some time to reflect on why you think you would be a good fit.

 

If you have never written a cover letter before, it can seem like a daunting task, but there are a few simple steps to follow that can make the process a little less stressful. Read on for our do’s and don’ts of writing an effective cover letter that will land you an interview!

 

Do: Research & Personalize

 

Do as much research on the company and the position as possible, then integrate your findings into the body of your cover letter. If you can, look for the name of the hiring manager. Addressing your cover letter to someone rather than ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ adds a human element to the whole process.

 

Also, make adjustments to the cover letter for each individual position, like you would when writing your resume. Reference some of the particular requirements listed in the posting. Anything that is too non-specific to the job description will come off as generic and insincere, which is not likely to get you through to the next step of the hiring process.

 

Do: Grab Their Attention

 

Hiring managers only look at a resume and cover letter combination for a maximum of 15 seconds, so you have to make every word count. Your opening paragraph should be so compelling that the person reading it will want to keep reading – if you don’t have them hooked by the first few lines, their interest is likely going to decline. Hiring managers have also likely read several cover letters for similar positions before, so they will know a cliché when they see it.

 

Avoid the classic: ‘I am applying for this job…’ The hiring manager already knows you are applying to the job. Robin Ryan, author of the book Winning Cover Letters, illustrates a formula for writing an opening to your cover letter, called the Power Impact Technique: “begin your letter with a strong opening sentence emphasizing the major selling points and skills that you would bring to the job:

 

  1. Analyze the job — both the noted and assumed needs — and determine the most important skills the employer is looking for.
  2. Immediately address how you will meet the employer’s needs.

 

This first paragraph is what they will read so it needs to have your strongest selling points in it.”

 

Don’t: Paraphrase Your Resume

 

Keep in mind that your cover letter is not just a paraphrase of your resume. The two documents are naturally going to contain some similar information, but don’t repeat everything they are going to read on the next page. The cover letter is a chance to go into depth and expand on your experience, explaining how you would directly apply it to this position.

 

For example, in your resume you will list your past work positions. In the cover letter, you can expand on these positions by offering praise you received and goals you met, and how you aim to achieve the same at this new job. You can list some of your volunteer experience in your resume then go into more detail about the valuable skills you learned and how you have applied them to your professional career in the cover letter.

 

cover-letter

 

Do: Highlight Your Strengths 

 

When searching for a job, it can be easy to become discouraged if you don’t have very much experience. But don’t undersell yourself: you have a lot to offer, regardless of whether you match every single one of the requirements listed in the job posting. Don’t sell yourself short with lines like ‘Give me a chance’ or ‘I know I don’t have a lot of experience’, because this isn’t something that you want to draw attention to.

 

Even if you don’t have a ton of experience compared to the competition, you want to focus on the strengths that you do have. Many positions indirectly teach transferable skills, such as teamwork, communication and conflict resolution, that are valuable for nearly all jobs. And don’t be afraid to boast any past achievements and awards that speak to your talents and abilities. The cover letter is a chance to showcase all that you have to offer!

 

Do: Keep Formatting in Mind

 

Content aside, there are some basic formatting rules that should be followed when writing a cover letter. Always include your contact information (full name, email address and phone number) on the page, and keep the cover letter itself to around 500 words – any longer, and the reader is likely to lose interest. There are several templates available online if you need some extra guidance!

 

Always take the time to proofread your documents – several times. Careless typos and grammatical errors will obviously reflect poorly on you. Since this is the first impression your potential future employer will have of you, it has to be as close to perfect as possible.

 

Don’t: Use Overly Formal, Stiff Language

 

If you aren’t sure what to say in your cover letter, it can be tempting to try and ‘fancy’ it up with big words and formal language. It isn’t a bad idea to write in a formal style but going overboard can make you sound ingenuine and unnatural, and not like an approachable and comfortable future employee. Try to find a happy medium between overly casual and overly formal language and write how you would speak in a normal professional conversation.

 

What are some of your cover letter writing do’s and don’ts? We would love to hear them – join the discussion in the comments below!

 

Find your Job
     
Request a Talent

communication

The Importance of Communication in the Hiring Process

/in , , , /by

Communication in the professional world can sometimes feel tricky to master. You have to balance assertiveness with passivity. You also need to know when the best time is to speak up and when to let others have the floor. For many, this level of understanding takes practice and experience. However, it’s important to dedicate time to learning these skills, because a lack of communication can lead to frustration, mistakes and wasted time for each person involved.

In the recruiting industry, a great candidate experience is the result of all parties working together towards a shared goal. As a candidate, you play a crucial role in this process, so what you have to say truly matters. Don’t worry about stepping on anyone’s toes or coming off as demanding, because not saying what is on your mind will only hurt you in the end.

Here are a few of the reasons why we believe maintaining communication in the hiring process is the most important thing you can do.

Be Upfront About What You Want

Maintaining an open and direct line of communication from start to finish while working with a recruiter is very important. Chances are, you have at least a general idea of what you are looking for in a position. But there may be other factors which are important to you that aren’t always obvious to your recruiter (for example, office location or workplace culture) that need to be specifically vocalized. The more information you provide you recruiter with, the higher their chances will be in getting you what you want.

Recruiters are great at what they do, but they are not mind readers! From the moment you first connect with your recruiter up until you have been hired for a position, be honest and open about what is working and what isn’t. It not only ensures you find a position you actually enjoy; it helps recruiters learn and grow professionally.

 

communication

 

Listen Actively

Listening is just as important as talking during the recruitment process. This goes for candidates, clients and recruiters alike. Listening to what the other party has to say is one thing, but actively internalising what they are communicating and taking steps towards improving the situation makes everybody’s lives easier in the end.

Listening to the constructive criticism that your recruiter has to offer should be taken in stride. Your recruiter has tons of valuable industry intel they can offer you to make you a stronger candidate overall, so trust them! The end goal is to find you a position that you love, and sometimes it takes a little bit of adjusting to get there.

Patience and Understanding Go A Long Way

Communication is key, but you need to find a balance between wanting to stay in the loop and giving your recruiter some room to breathe. Playing the waiting game is certainly stressful when it comes to the job search. But trust that your recruiter is doing everything they can to move the process forward and won’t get your hopes up with unnecessary communication.

Also, keep in mind that recruiters won’t place you in a job that they don’t believe to be a good fit. For this reason, you may not find a job right away, or you might have to consider adjusting your criteria slightly. Either way, being adaptable and understanding about the realities of the hiring process will help make the journey that much easier!

If you have some tips on professional communication, we would love to hear them! Leave them in the comment section below.

Find your Job
     
Request a Talent

staffing

Common Questions About the Staffing Industry Answered

/in , , , /by

If you have never worked with a staffing agency before, you may be skeptical towards them. Letting a stranger take the reins of your career search can feel unsettling to some people but working with a recruiter has TONs of benefits! LPC Personnel has been operating in the staffing and recruiting industry for over 30 years, so it’s safe to say we are seasoned vets. We are more than prepared to field any questions you may have.

 

Here we have compiled answers to some of the most common questions job seekers have about the staffing and recruiting industry.

 

Why Should I Work with a Staffing Agency?

 

Searching for a job is a full-time job in and of itself. You have to navigate between job boards, resume writing, cold calling and interview prep. It can certainly become overwhelming if you don’t know what you are doing.

 

If you’ve ever felt confused or discouraged during a job search, it may be time to call in the pros. Recruiters are expert job placement professionals: it is literally their job to find you a job! They have the industry knowledge, contacts and experience to reach a much broader scope of potential employment opportunities. Working with a recruiter takes a lot of the headache out of finding a job. More importantly, it reduces the likelihood of you taking a job that isn’t a good fit.

 

What Kind of Services do Staffing Agencies Provide?

 

While the main service that recruiters provide is finding you a new job, their talents don’t stop there. At LPC, we are all-around job search aficionados, and are more than happy to help in any area you may need help with. In addition, recruiters can also offer resume writing help and interview coaching to make sure you come off as professional as possible. Recruiters are also happy to address any questions or concerns they may have along the way. After all, the job search is all about first impressions.

 

Good recruiters don’t just disappear after finding you an interview, either. They will follow up with you and your employer every step of the hiring process to make sure everyone is (and stays) on the right page.

 

recruiter

 

What Kind of Placements do Staffing Agencies Make?

 

Not every candidates’ needs are the same. One might be looking for a temporary, flexible position while another wants a full-time permanent role. For this reason, there are a few different types of placements that staffing agencies can make, depending on what their client is looking for at the time. Here are some of the most common types of placements made:

 

  • Temporary: this type of job has a decided end-date, and can last anywhere from a few days to several months (although on occasion, temporary placements turn into full-time roles!)
  • Temp-to-Hire: like the title implies, this type of position has the intention of temporary employees becoming permanent team members. The employer, not the recruiter, makes this decision and is dependent on the employee’s performance and other factors
  • Direct hire: the candidate is hired right away as a full-time employee (though, probationary periods are often still in place)

 

LPC fills all types of positions in a number of different industries, including industrial, construction, intermodal, customer service and clerical. If you are looking for a job in one of these specialties, take a look at our job board here.

 

Can You Really Trust a Staffing Agency?

 

You may be wondering if staffing agencies can really be trusted. You might ask yourself questions like: Aren’t recruiters just in it for a paycheck? Why would they possibly care about my career and aspirations – won’t they just place me in a job and move on to the next candidate?

 

The answer to these questions is a cold hard NO! Recruiters are in their line of work not only because they are good at it, but more importantly, because they love what they do. Good recruiters will do everything they can to make you feel like you’re not ‘just a number’, or the means to an end. You can trust that recruiters will use their years of experience, insider knowledge, and their wide network of industry contacts and to help you achieve your full professional potential. To a recruiter, nothing feels better than helping someone land their dream job.

If you have any more questions for the LPC Personnel team about what we do, or the staffing industry on a larger scale, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can leave a comment below or email us directly at resume@lpcpersonnel.com!

Find your Job
Request a Talent

resume

The Best Resume Writing & Interview Tips to Land You the Job

/in , , /by

As the saying goes: searching for a job is a full-time job!  In a highly competitive job market, the idea of having to stand apart from the crowd can seem overwhelming.

 

Here at LPC, we have helped countless candidates craft professional resumes and interview for their dream jobs like seasoned vets. So, if you are embarking on a job search, you have come to the right place. Here we have compiled a few of our favorite resume writing and interview tips to help make the journey seem a little less daunting!

 

Resume Writing Tips

 

Writing a resume doesn’t have to be a challenge, but it does require thought and care. If your resume is not prepared to optimal standards, your chances of it being considered are slim to none! Here are a few key tips and tricks that every job seeker should follow to produce a resume that will score an interview.

 

Use Keywords in Your Resume

 

To accommodate the high volume of resumes many job openings receive, a lot of companies now use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to narrow down the best candidates based on their experience – more specifically, how their experience is listed on their resume as it relates to the job posting.

 

In the digital age, the likelihood of your resume making it into the hands of an actual human before passing an applicant tracking system is quite low. For this reason, incorporating keywords specifically used in the job description into your resume will greatly increase your chances of getting through to the interview round.

 

Adjust Resumes & Cover Letters for Each Job

 

For each job that you apply to, it is important to adjust your resume and cover letter to be as relevant as possible to the job in question. Even if you apply for five jobs that are similar in nature, it will be obvious if the exact same resume is being recycled for each one.

 

Speaking in generalities may come off as disconnected and vague. Adjusting your documents to specifically reflect the job in question does not require much effort and will really pay off in the long run.

 

Resume Format is Important 

 

Once your resume does get into the hands of a real person, you need to make sure it is chock full of relevant experience and glowing references that are presented in a polished and professional way. It may seem inconsequential, but the actual physical appearance of your resume holds significant weight.

 

Everything from the overall resume layout and how you organize your work history all the way down to your font choice can play a role in how you come off to the hiring manager, so choose wisely!

 

interview

 

Interview Tips

 

Congrats! Your expertly crafted resume has proven effective and you have an interview for a great job coming up. Once you make it to this stage of the hiring process, you need to do everything you can to be prepared as possible. The interview is where you make your first face-to-face impression with your potential future employers, so take the time to prepare for anything and everything that may be thrown your way.

 

The Interview Basics

 

The following tips may be fairly obvious to some, but it is always a good idea to make sure you have the basics covered when getting ready for an interview. It will help get you into the right headspace to really hit your meeting out of the park. Make a checklist of the following items and ensure that you complete them all:

 

  • Show up with a printed copy of your resume and cover letter
  • Arrive 10-15 minutes early
  • Make sure you know who is interviewing you and what their position is
  • Dress in clean, ironed and professional attire
  • After the interview, send a follow-up email to say thank you and reiterate your interest in the position

 

Do Your Research Before the Interview

 

Nothing will say ‘unprofessional’ like walking into an interview with no knowledge of the company you are meeting with. Take some time to research the company, the position you are interviewing for, the company’s history and values, industry news, etc. A lot of this information should be easy to find with a few Google searches, and will go a long way during the interview.

 

Demonstrating that you have a broader understanding of how you will be fitting into the company will show your interviewer that you are looking at the bigger picture and not just concerned about a paycheck.

 

Prepare for Common Interview Questions

 

Depending on the job, the industry-specific questions you will be asked are going to vary quite a bit. But it is almost guaranteed that every interview you go on will ask a handful of common questions that are relevant to most workplace scenarios. Don’t overlook or underprepare for these questions – they are your chance to give your interviewer some insight about yourself and how you will act in this position. Some of the most common questions include:

 

  • Tell me a little bit about yourself?
  • What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
  • Tell me about a difficult workplace problem you encountered and how did you handle it?

 

If you prepare answers with tangible examples to a few of these questions, you will leave a great first impression with your interviewer.

What are some of your go-to resume and interview tips that have helped you land a job in the past? Leave them in the comments below! And, if you are looking for a new position, reach out an LPC recruiter – we are here to help.

Find your Job
Request a Talent

temp-to-hire

Temp-to-Hire vs Direct Hire: Which is Right for Me?

/in , , , /by

If you are looking for a new job, you have probably come across terms such as ‘temp-to-hire’ and ‘direct hire’ in job postings. While there are subtle differences between the two, their true meaning can be somewhat confusing to job seekers.

 

Traditionally, direct hire sounds like the smarter choice, because ‘temporary work’ can often be thought of as open-ended and lacking security. However, the intricacies of each may persuade you to reconsider which direction makes the most sense for your career.

 

Read on for a rundown on the two different (yet similar) employment types, so that you can make an informed decision when looking for your next great job.

 

What is a temp-to-hire?

 

A temporary or contract employee is someone who is brought into a company for a limited period of time. They are usually hired to fill in for employees that are on leave for personal reasons or to help supplement busy work periods, like the holidays.

 

Sometimes, when the temporary worker’s designated duration is over, employers will choose to offer them a full-time position after seeing how well they fit into the role. This is where the term ‘temp-to-hire’ comes in. In these instances, the employee’s stint as a temporary worker can be seen as a test-run for whether or not they will be a good fit with the company. While they are a temporary worker, they are typically still employed by the staffing agency. There are few differences between this, and a standard probation period, beyond semantics.

 

direct-hire

 

What is a direct hire?

 

A direct hire is someone who is hired for a permanent position, usually full-time. They are hired for the long-term right off the bat. The process of employing a direct hire is typically a little bit longer than a temporary one, because the employer has to think more thoroughly about who they want to bring on to their team for the foreseeable future. While a probationary period still exists, there is nevertheless a feeling among the team and new hire that they’re in it for the long hall.

 

Permanent, full-time jobs appeal to a lot of people because of the sense of security associated with them. There are also typically benefits and perks that come along with a full-time role, such as health insurance and paid vacation time. However, as mentioned, permanent roles still require a probationary period to be passed before the employee can enjoy any of the benefits that come with the job. A direct hire can also be let go at any point during the probationary period.

 

Which one should I choose?

 

In a lot of ways, temp-to-hire positions and direct hire positions share a lot of similarities. Both go through some sort of ‘temporary’ phase before being able to reap the benefits of being a full-time employee. Whether it be the ‘temporary’ phase of the temp-to-hire’s path, or the probationary period for the direct hire, there is a certain period of time before an employee truly becomes ‘full-time’.

 

Aside from these technicalities, there are benefits to both types of position. Direct hire work appeals to many because of its inherent permanence. Knowing that you can anticipate having a job for the long-term is very comforting for a lot of people. Alternatively, temporary work is appealing to some because it lacks permanency; many people enjoy not being committed to a contract before they test the waters. These kinds of positions allow individuals to try a variety of work, enjoy flexible schedules and make fast money.

 

Are you looking for a new job in the Houston area? LPC Personnel recruits for many temp-to-hire and direct-hire positions. Reach out today to see if we have something for you!

 

Find your Job
Request a Talent