A decade ago, utilizing an employment service was like going to a matchmaker. A few businesses did it, but they certainly didn’t talk about it.
    Boy, how times have changed.

Cynthia Brandenburg is president of A Plus Personnel with offices in Solana Beach and Clairemont Mesa.

The National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services (NATSS) estimates that 90 percent of all businesses today hire temporary employees. With so many businesses using employment agencies to find employees, either temporary or permanent, the stigma is finally gone. And the employment industry has only one factor to thank — the recent recession and how it changed the current business climate.     "Everyone is running at the 'right size' now," explains Marc Goldman, vice president of marketing for AppleOne Employment Services, which has six locations in San Diego. "There are no empty desks. That's why it’s unbelievably important to have the right person in a job."     No wonder many businesses are happy to pay an employment agency to handle the time-consuming and demanding task of sifting through resumes and finding the exact match for a position, whether it’s a temporary or permanent one.     Also growing by leaps and bounds is the field of temporary-to-permanent placements. This is a great way for employers to "try out" a prospective employee. And for job-seekers in an employee's market, a temporary position is a good way to get a realistic look at a possible permanent employer before making a commitment. That may explain why 14,620 San Diegans worked as temporaries in 1996, according to NATSS.     "It’s mostly a good opportunity to interview a company and get a good feel for what it’s really like," says Bridget howard, a North Park resident whose temporary executive assistant job with Maxwell Technologies in Kearny Mesa recently became

permanent. "That way I could see if I liked it, and they checked me out to make sure I was a good fit."
    It’s an industry where many factors can go wrong. But when a good match is made, both employer and employee can benefit greatly. The first step is finding the right employment service to bring the two together.

    Employer Seeking Employees
    To begin with, employers need to set the parameters of what they require and what kind of employment service can meet those needs best. For instance, the size of the agency can be important. A smaller company might give more personal attention, while a larger company may have a national reputation and a larger employee pool.
    Another factor to consider is the growing number of employment agencies that specialize in employees with particular skills. For instance, Re:sources Connection, a subsidiary of Deloitte & Touche, specializes in high-level accounting personnel from CFOs to controllers.

"More and more companies are offering high-level employees," points out Michael Ford, Re:source's director of operations. "A high-level employee might cost more, but they're going to get it done right and save you headaches. That's worth the money in the long run."     But there are advantages to an agency that can offer employees with a wide range of skills. "Then you’re able to call one company with all your needs," says Cynthia Brandenburg, president of A Plus Personnel, which has offices in Solana Beach and Clairemont Mesa.     First impressions are vital in any relationship, including a business one. Does an agency's employee answer the phone professionally? Are calls returned promptly? Does the company seem eager to find out its clients' needs and fulfill them quickly and efficiently?     "It’s stunning how many people don’t return phone calls or say they appreciate your business," says W. Tate Scott, CEO of EROS Inc., manufacturers of medical devices in San Diego. Scott chose Elite Staffing Services because of its customer service.     Checking out an employment service's reputation and references can be time-consuming but is well worth the effort. Visit the company office to get a feel for the level of professionalism there and see the testing process for employees firsthand. Likewise, the company should send its employees to see the employer's office to get a feel for its corporate culture.     It’s essential to ask questions, like how much time the agency spends with employees, what their testing procedures are and what

Michael Ford says Re:sources Connection specializes in providing high-level accounting personnel.

benefit packages they offer to attract the most highly skilled people.

Bob Svet, founder and CEO of the Eastridge Group, says wrong choice of worker 'becomes very clear.'

This is also a great opportunity to see what kind of relationship the company develops with a client.     "The majority of people in this industry are well-trained, so the issue isn’t training, but are you comfortable?" suggests Bob Svet, founder and CEO of the Eastridge Group, the largest independently owned temporary staffing firm in San Diego. "It’s like choosing a doctor. They're all qualified, but you choose the one you feel the most comfortable with."     If you've made the wrong choice it becomes very clear when the service sends over people who not only don’t fit the criteria of the position but don’t "fit in" either.     "Some agencies try to fit a square peg in a round hole," says Lisa DeBenedittis, president of Elite Staffing Services Inc., a 2-year-old employment service based in Sorrento Valley. "They're throwing suggestions at the wall and seeing what sticks. That's one way to quickly tell they're not the right company for you."     When that happens, perhaps it’s time to look for a new agency.     "I wanted an agency that took the time to understand our business so when they put people in front of us, they weren’t wasting our time," says Scott. "If an agency doesn’t work for your service, don’t use them. Who wants them?"     Employee Seeking Employer     The best employment services consider the clients and employees equally. That's good news for temporaries, who can be treated like commodities at the wrong agency.

    "We clearly have two customers — our clients, the employers, and our customers, the employees," says Phil Blair, executive officer of the six-office franchise of Manpower in San Diego. "Any service who forgets that will be in trouble." In fact, Manpower sends its employees Christmas and birthday cards, gives necklaces to those who achieve glowing praise and offers benefits like holiday and vacation pay.
    That's the kind of treatment temporary employees are looking for. Finding it isn’t that easy, but again, first impressions are important. A good service sees prospective employees quickly, treats them with courtesy and gets to know their goals as well. Some agencies offer resume-writing assistance and seminars on career skills such as interviewing techniques.
    It’s also important that the agency has the right jobs for the employee. If it specializes in clerical and the employee works in the high-tech field, the agency might not be able to send many jobs the employee's way.
    "I read the best ads in the classifieds and circled the agencies," relates Howard. "I found one agency stood out because it had the jobs I was looking for."
    A reverse version of that system can be helpful as well. An employee who desires to work at a particular company can call and find out which employment service it uses. It might be the best way to get a foot in the door.
    Often getting a reference from a friend is the best way to find an agency that really works for the employee. But in the end, the agency that sets up a relationship with both employees and employers gets the job done well.
    "The agency I chose is really helpful and great," says Sandy Kraisirideja, an Escondido resident who lost a job suddenly and used an employment service to get back into the job market quickly. "They're really understanding, especially when I don’t like a job or when I don’t want to work. They give me that flexibility and don’t make me feel like I’ve done something wrong."
    It’s ironic that in the age of high-tech, good business still comes down to people. Because an employment service is so much like a matchmaker, an agency that knows how to work with people, size them up and make a solid fit can leave everyone happy.
    "People need good people," says Goldman. "The matching process is crucial to keeping a business running efficiently."