May 28, 2013

Smart Resources Staffing Firm Reveals Results of Chicago Hiring Survey

A recent hiring survey of HR and corporate employers, conducted by Chicago staffing firms Smart Resources and Accountable Search, shows improving trends in the Chicago job market.

A variety of large and small Chicago-based firms were surveyed and results showed that 35% of respondents believe their companies are adequately staffed, given the demands of the marketplace for their goods/services. 33% of the companies surveyed were planning on hiring new staff while 19% were reducing headcount, and/or plan on doing so in the future.

36% of employers plan on using temporary staffing and search
to fill gaps.”

chicago companies, hiring, hiring survey, HR strategies, Human Resources, job hunting, recruitment firms, Smart Resources, staffing agencies, temporary staffing, temps, Tim Flood

May 24, 2013

Chicago Job Search Ideas: 5 Reasons Why a Temporary Job Might Land You the Perfect Job

During the course of my conversations with job candidates at the Chicago staffing firm Smart Resources, many express reluctance or apprehension when asked about temporary work. Obviously the goal of most candidates is to land a direct hire position where they can have stability and benefits from day one. Others will insist that any temporary roles be of the temp-to-hire variety. Again, a “temp-to-hire” position seems to offer the security that many of our applicants are seeking. What can be troubling is that sometimes candidates may sometimes miss the bigger picture when considering the virtues of temporary roles. Take a look at some of the advantages of pursuing a temporary/contract position. Continue Reading

administrative staffing, job hunting, skill building, Smart Resources, staffing agencies

Apr 9, 2013

Your Job Search: Why Work with a Chicago Recruiter?

In today’s competitive job market, the number one way to gain a new position is through networking. Whether it is utilizing social media tools or working closely with a recruiter, networking can only be an advantage to you. Submitting your resume to job postings and company websites can be successful, but often times this may not be enough to land you a job quickly. In today’s market, it is important to set yourself apart from other job seekers and open all doors of opportunity.

Staffing Agencies are well connected in the job market”

careers, job hunting, job interviews, job search, staffing agencies

Mar 12, 2013

Finding a full-time job: How a temporary position can lead to permanent placement

Finding a job is tough these days. When it comes to your job search, it is always the best policy to utilize as many resources as you can, including staffing firms. At our Chicago staffing agency, Smart Resources, we hear from a lot of candidates that they want to focus on finding temp to hire and direct hire jobs, which is completely understandable. However, we wanted to share that one, often overlooked, avenue to finding a full time job is the temporary placement. Continue Reading

Chicago staffing, interviewing, job hunting, job interviews, staffing agencies, Tim Flood

Feb 12, 2013

Staffing agency news: Smart Resources and Accountable Search named “Best of Staffing” by CareerBuilder.com for 4th straight year

Ever since CareerBuilder.com and Inavero began surveying customers of staffing firms in 2010, Smart Resources and Accountable Search have been named to the “Best of Staffing” list. Once again we made the top of the list with out clients. This is something we work hard on every day and we want to thank our clients for speaking so highly of us.

What this means is, our ‘satisfaction’ ratings place us in the top 1% of staffing firms in North America. In fact, our ‘client’ satisfaction scores are 250% higher than the average for our industry. I’m really proud of my team for this distinction.

How have we done this? Really, it’s all about our candidates- and specifically, our relationships with them. Continue Reading

Accountable Search, administrative staffing, CareerBuilders.com, Chicago staffing, Smart Resources, staffing agencies, Tim Flood

Oct 5, 2012

Office Management: Improving Customer Service

In my last blog, ‘How a Positive Work Environment Can Impact the Customer Experience’, I shared how a positive first impression can be critical for how people experience your business. This time, I want to share a couple of “Don’ts” when it comes to serving customers. It always amazes me when a company treats its customers poorly. The key to a better customer experience is training your staff to provide exceptional customer service.

My Chicago staffing agency, Smart Resources, cancelled our yellow pages listing this year; you can guess why – with the internet, we didn’t need it. Continue Reading

Accountable Search, administrative staffing, Chicago, customer service, Human Resources, office management, office staffing, Smart Resources, staff management, staff training, Tim Flood, work environment

Sep 10, 2012

How a Positive Work Environment Can Impact the Customer Experience

As a partner in the Chicago staffing and recruitment agencies, Smart Resources and Accountable Search, I’ve seen how a positive work environment can impact employee productivity, job satisfaction, and the customer experience. A good ‘vibe’ begins in your office and with your people.

Have you ever asked yourself what ‘vibe’ people get when they walk into your office or place of business? And, have you ever walked into a place (retail or an office) and gotten either a really strong positive ‘vibe,’ or the reverse, a negative ‘vibe?’

customer experience, HR strategies, Human Resources, office management, people skills, staff management, work environment

Jun 16, 2012

Staffing Strategies: 10 Tips for Creating a Productive Temporary Employee Workforce

Timely advice for employers hiring and managing temporary staff.

So how do you get the most out the temporary employees you’ve hired to fill in during crunch time, manage a temporary project, or fill in for a staff member on leave?

1. Planning Pays Off

Before work starts, contact your personnel department or a representative from a temporary employment agency and explain your needs. The experts can help find the right person for the job, but they need to know specific criteria so that they can send qualified candidates to do the work. Continue Reading

Accountable Search, administrative, Chicago, Chicago staffing, diversity, employee skills, hiring, HR strategies, Human Resources, office managers, office staffing, search firms, Smart Resources, staff management, staff productivity, staffing, staffing agencies, temporary staffing, temps, Tim Flood, workplace

Jun 13, 2012

Staffing Best Practices: Five Insights on How to Manage Temporary Employees

In today’s job market, more companies are turning to temporary staffing firms for the flexibility they offer to mange projects, fill gaps, or cover for full-time employees on leave.

With budgets tight in this economy, it makes sense to spend a little time upfront preparing for a ‘project’ or temporary employee, to maximize the productivity you receive for your dollar.

Supervising regular employees already poses many challenges, such as motivation, morale, and productivity, to name just a few. Add to that the additional demands of including temporary employees on your team, and the dynamic within your department, as well as your management workload, can shift significantly.

The following tips can help you to increase the commitment level from your temporary workforce. Continue Reading

Accountable Search, administrative, Chicago, employee skills, hiring, HR strategies, Human Resources, interviewing, office managers, recruiting, recruitment firms, screening, search firms, Smart Resources, staff management, staffing, staffing agencies, temporary staffing, temps, Tim Flood, tips, workplace

Jun 10, 2012

Staffing Agency Best Practices: How Not to Treat Your Temp Staff

It’s not easy to do temporary work – adjusting to new environments and office cultures; new supervisors with new communication styles and expectations; and a new set of busy co-workers whom you’re not quite sure how to approach…

We created this video as an example of how not to treat temporary employees.

At Smart Resources we offer Chicago temporary staff the respect and consideration that each of us would desire when walking into a new environment. Finding the right fit for both our clients and temporary staff is our #1 priority.

Accountable Search, administrative staffing, Chicago, hiring, HR strategies, office staffing, Smart Resources, staff management, staffing agencies, temporary staffing, temps, Tim Flood, video