job listings

Using Craigslist to Find New Hires

Using Craigslist to Find New Hires

Today, Southern California is full of job seekers. When companies decide to hire new employees they have many options. In recent years, Craigslist has built a reputation as a great resource of free and low-cost classifieds online. However, relying on craigslist to fill local job openings might actually cost your company more time and money than you believe. In most cases, using a staffing agency to fill open positions is far more cost and time effective.

Craigslist offers businesses a simple method for posting job listings. Hiring managers can select a city, a category, open an account and post their job listing. The ease of the process was made even more appealing by the fact that job listings could be posted for free. As time passed, Craigslist began charging for job listings in several markets in an effort to filter out fraudulent and frivolous job postings.

However, fourteen years after the launch of Craigslist, the website is losing effectiveness as a recruitment source under the weight of its own success. In Southern California specifically, job seeker traffic has grown exponentially on Craigslist while the number of job postings has fallen. The result is that every single job that is posted on Craigslist is flooded with applicants, creating a backlog of work for hiring managers. Companies both large and small report receiving hundreds of replies to job postings within only 24 hours, however only one or two of these applicants end up being worthy of an interview. Companies must spend multiple hours reviewing the overload of resumes just to find the needle in the haystack.

Another issue with using Craigslist is the lack of customer service. Once a job listing is posted, returning to the website to make edits or remove the listing isn’t difficult if you’ve saved your confirmation email. However, if you require the assistance of a real person you are typically out of luck. Craigslist communicates with its customers solely through email. Because of the size of Craigslist’s database compared to the size of its customer service team, very few customers actually receive replies to their questions.

When companies consider online resources for attracting job candidates the results will typically mirror the quality of the source. In this case it really is true that you get what you pay for, in terms of both quality and the time required to identify qualified applicants.

iStaffing Agency helps Southern California companies locate, screen and place professional candidates into Management, Senior and Executive level positions. iStaffing Agency specializes in Human Resources, Accountants, Executives, IT Professionals, Loan Officers and other professional candidates in addition to candidates in the Entertainment and Nonprofit sector. iStaffing Agency services all areas of Orange County and Los Angeles County. For more information about how iStaffing Agency can help your company with their staffing needs, please contact us today.

Top Industries in California

Top Industries in California

With a population of over 3.8 million, Los Angeles is the largest incorporated city in the state of California. Los Angeles is also on the leading edge of many growth industries. Despite the Great Recession and severe financial problems in several California cities, many of the metropolitan areas have experienced substantial job growth. For example, between June 2008 and December 2009, Los Angeles experienced an increase of 22% in job listings. From 2010-2012, the state of California experienced an increase in jobs available statewide. Even though job listings declined from March to December in 2012, they began to rise again in January 2013. By August 2013 job listings reached a 39% increase, with a total of more than 1,000,000 jobs available in California. The Orange County city of Santa Ana experienced the largest increase in job listings.

The top jobs listed in California include:

Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Software Engineers
Sales Representatives
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Physical Therapy Assistants
Store Managers
IT Project Managers
Administrative Assistants
Salespeople
Senior Software Engineers
Account Executives
Assistant Store Managers
Financial Advisors
Registered Nurses
Healthcare Volunteers
Customer Service Representatives
Pharmacists
Application Architects
Procurement Managers
Business Analysts
Online Teachers
Document Translators
Financial Analysts
Mechanical Engineers and Systems Engineers

By 2016 the following jobs are expected to increase by higher percentages than other occupations in California:

Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
Computer Software Application Engineers
Forensic Science Technicians
Skin Care Specialists
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Home Health Aides
Occupational Therapist Assistants
Mathematical Scientists
Traffic Technicians
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Physical Therapist Assistants
Dental Hygienists
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Dental Assistants
Veterinarians
Athletic Trainers
Special Education Teachers
Biomedical Engineers
Multi-Media Artists and Animators
Microbiologists
Physical Therapist Aides
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants
Medical Assistants
Database Administrators

Los Angeles, California has developed into one of the premier centers of economic and cultural activity in the world. When compared to the economy of the world’s top 20 countries, the Los Angeles five-county area ranks at number 16 and Los Angeles County ranks at number 21. The state of California ranks at number 9.

iStaffing Agency helps place professional candidates into Management, Senior and Executive level positions in Southern California. iStaffing Agency specializes in Human Resources, Accountants, Executives, IT Professionals, Loan Officers and other professional candidates in addition to candidates in the Entertainment and Nonprofit sector. For more information about how iStaffing Agency can help you locate your next career opportunity in Los Angeles County or Orange County, California please contact us today.

Making Sense Out of Job Listings

Making Sense Out of Job Listings

Job listings are full of terms such as contract, temporary, temp to perm and direct hire. Each of these positions has their own unique benefits to both job seekers and the companies that offer them. However, many job seekers do not fully understand the difference between the types of employment being offered. Although some companies might vary slightly on how they define these terms, the following definitions should help you make sense out of the positions offered on most job boards.

Contract
Contract typically refers to a position that is not permanent and has a specific time frame attached to it. This type of work usually does not come with benefits. Contract work is offered when a company needs to complete a project or needs to cover a permanent employee’s leave of absence.

Temporary
Temporary positions can range from a few hours to full time work for up to one year. With temporary work there is no guarantee of the position becoming a permanent position with benefits. However, temporary positions frequently extend past the set end date, turn into temp to perm positions or open the door to a full time job later on. A temporary employee is typically considered an employee of the staffing agency.

Temp to Perm
Temp to perm positions are offered when an employer would like a full time employee but cannot commit to a permanent position immediately. During the temp to hire period, the employee is considered an employee of the staffing agency. Companies seeking temp to hire candidates through respectable staffing agencies are sincere in their desire to hire permanent staff members. This type of position can be a great benefit to both job seekers and the companies that offer them.

Direct Hire
With direct hire positions, companies utilize a staffing agency to locate talent then hire them directly. Direct hire positions are permanent positions, usually full time with benefits. Instead of being an employee of the staffing agency, candidates offered a direct hire position go directly on the company payroll.

iStaffing Agency helps place professional candidates into Management, Senior and Executive level positions. iStaffing Agency specializes in Human Resources, Accountants, Executives, IT Professionals, Loan Officers and other professional candidates in addition to candidates in the Entertainment and Nonprofit sector. For more information about how iStaffing Agency can help you locate your next career opportunity, please contact them today.

Tips For Getting A Job Through a Staffing Agency

Tips For A Getting Job Through A Staffing Agency

In today’s competitive world it can be extremely hard to find a job. One of the most promising ways of finding a good job is to contract with a staffing agency. Staffing agencies can help you find the perfect job and gain necessary experience throughout the process. The following tips can help you land a job through a staffing agency.

Research the different staffing agencies available
Locate staffing agencies online and thoroughly research them. Check references and ask lots of questions.
Understand the difference between paid and free
There are several staffing agencies that require job seekers to pay a fee for their services. Most of the time this fee will be paid by the company where the applicant is placed. If you choose to use a staffing firm that charges fees, make sure that you research them thoroughly before signing on.
Register with a reputable agency
A reputable staffing agency can be a valuable partner when searching for a good job.
Provide a comprehensive resume
Most staffing firms will require you to submit your resume when you register with them. This is important as it gives the staffing agency the ability to match your talents and skills to the job postings that they have available.
Take all qualifying tests
The staffing agency that you choose might require you to take certain qualifying tests. These tests are a good indicator of your personal skills and abilities and can enable the staffing agency to place you in a wider range of positions.
Take any additional training offered by the staffing firm
Many staffing agencies provide training for individuals that contract with them. This specialized training not only reinforces your skills but also increases your chances of finding a job.
Search through job listings
While the staffing agency that you contract with will aim to match you with the perfect job, it is still a good idea to search through the agency’s database of job vacancies yourself.
Whenever possible, sign up for Email or SMS alerts
When there is a job match, if you receive notice right away through email or SMS alerts you will be able to apply for the job immediately.
Always apply immediately
To avoid missed opportunities, always apply immediately when there is a job match.
Do not give up
The perfect job usually takes time to find. Trust in the staffing agency that you have chosen to work with.

iStaffing Agency helps companies throughout the United States locate, screen and place professional candidates into Management, Senior and Executive level positions. iStaffing Agency specializes in Human Resources, Accountants, Executives, IT Professionals, Loan Officers and other professional candidates in addition to candidates in the Entertainment and Nonprofit sector. For more information about how iStaffing Agency can help your company with their staffing needs, please contact them today.