CRMEA May/June Report 2018

ROBERT HALF:
A PIONEER
IN PROFESSIONAL
STAFFING
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
MEMBERSHIP
Robert Half is a specialized staffing firm with 300 locations across
the globe. The Cedar Rapids office services Cedar Rapids, Iowa City,
Waterloo and Cedar Falls. We spoke with Julie Albert, Cedar Rapids
Branch Manager, to learn more about Robert Half and trends they’re
seeing in the current job market.
What makes Robert Half unique?
We match great people with great companies. Robert Half is the
world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm, as we pioneered the
idea of professional staffing services nearly 70 years ago. As the needs
of businesses have evolved, so have we. Our clients and candidates
find value in professional-level staffing, which is why we launched a
series of professional staffing divisions in the finance and accounting,
legal, creative and marketing, technology and administrative fields.
Specialization benefits both us and our clients because we can
focus on the top 10% of local candidates to make sure we’re placing
qualified and readily available professionals.
Availability of workforce is a top concern
for our member businesses. What strategy
does Robert Half use to find qualified
candidates for businesses with open
positions?
Iowa’s unemployment rate recently hit an 18-year low. This is very
positive news for job seekers and our local economy, but it can prove
difficult for businesses looking to hire top talent. In this case, it’s
important for employers to reach candidates who are both actively
and passively seeking a new job opportunity. A passive candidate is
someone who’s currently employed and not actively searching for a
job, but may be open to changing positions if the right opportunity
arose. That’s the advantage of partnering with a specialized staffing
firm such as Robert Half; we have access to an extensive network of
both active and passive job seekers, and can identify the right match in
terms of skills, as well as corporate culture fit.
Another trend we’re seeing is more employers – and candidates –
interested in temp-to-full time positions. Hiring a full-time employee is
an investment for businesses, and temp-to-full time is an ideal way for
the candidate and employer to try each other out before making a final
decision. Businesses that adopt a temp-to-hire strategy benefit from
observing job candidates firsthand — and by hiring people who’ve
gained a familiarity with the organization and its corporate culture.
This approach to staffing provides a hands-on, realistic way of choosing
a new employee with a lower risk of a hiring mistake.
Learn more about Robert Half on their website, RobertHalf.com.
ECONOMIC ALLIANCE REPORT
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