Mark Keady, Author at WSI

Jump In, the (Blue) Water is Fine!

wsi staffing blog - blue ocean / red ocean

In 2005, Professors W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne launched a revelation in business strategy by encouraging companies to evacuate shark infested waters.

Sharks? In Michigan? Well – the proverbial shark. Essentially, they are suggesting that companies are better off searching for ways to gain “uncontested market space” (referred to Blue Oceans) instead of competing with similar companies (sharks) and struggling to survive (the Red Oceans).

In staffing and recruiting, the pool of unemployed folks is getting redder and redder by the day. These waters are full of the same group of people day in and day out who are checking job boards for the next best thing. Likewise, they’re also full of competitors who are fishing for the same candidates. And while job boards can be a good resource, it shouldn’t be your company’s only strategy when recruiting, as the net you’re casting only goes so far when trying to catch new applicants.

Perhaps you’re saying “Christy, this makes total sense to me. But how do I get to the Blue Ocean waters?” Simply put, you’re going to need a bigger net. And WSI Recruitment & Staffing can help! WSI can help you make the competition irrelevant by finding associates who are ideal for YOUR workplace and taking your story to them, rather than crossing our fingers and hoping they stumble upon your company’s job post among a sea of hundreds.

Job seekers today have changed how they search for employment. If you don’t make the necessary adjustments to meet them where they are, you are always going to be treading in red, shark-infested water.

They Say You’ve Got a Bad Reputation

WSI Blogs - They say you have a bad reputation

Online reputation monitoring is a real thing. An important thing. Not only do you want your customers to give you great reviews, but have you ever thought about what your employees and former employees are saying? Everyone has access at their fingertips to check out your company – and what your online reputation is saying about your company culture, management, and work environment is just as important as your product and service quality.

I spent less than 15 minutes online and was able to get a few reviews of businesses right here in Grand Rapids:

“No matter how good of a worker you are, you will be degraded and talked to like you are trash.”
“I wouldn’t recommend anyone to work here. I’m happy I got out of such a toxic work environment!”
“The building IS filthy all the time, so you don’t have to worry about keeping it clean.”

Those reviews could very well be about your company. Even if they’re not, they should make you sit up and take notice. And while it’s easy to shrug off reviews like these as only being written by disgruntled or “bad” employees, we’ve found that people feel emboldened to really speak their minds – whether true or slightly inaccurate – when they’re behind the safety of their screens. Often, they do. not. hold. back.

Negative comments are just as powerful as positive ones like these:

“Place of employment: good company to work for, good people and benefits.”
“A great company that cares about its products and people. First class all the way!!!!”
“I have been here for almost 2 years and I love it. I have great co-workers and great bosses. They really go above and beyond for everyone.”

Which ones would you rather have future employees read about your business?

The goods news is, your online reputation can be helped. First, you need to figure out what kinds of stories and experiences you’d ideally want people to share with the world, especially with future employees. Then you build and maintain a work environment that supports those experiences. That makes it easier for the final step, which is make it easy for others to tell your story in a positive, organic light.

At WSI, we work with our client partners regularly on reputation management initiatives because helping your business tell it’s story is not only our passion, but it also enables us to get the quality associates that you are looking for! Learn more about our staffing solutions and what makes us different at www.wsitalent.com.

5 Things Your Staffing Agency Should Be Doing

“It just feels different.” We hear this from our clients time and time again who have worked with other staffing firms in the past. What makes us different than other staffing agencies is our purpose-driven strategy for recruiting and managing their temporary workforce.

Staff Spotlight – Jeff Harp

Join us this month as we dig a little deeper into the life of our very own Jeff Harp. Jeff has done great things for our Marysville Branch and even though his dreams of being a Professional Golfer didn’t pan out, we’re glad he ended up with us. Let’s get started!

CBD in the Workplace

There’s no denying that CBD (Cannabidiol) is one of the biggest buzzwords of the year. It’s being sold everywhere we turn and is in everything we buy (or so it seems). Although it’s infiltrating the wellness world, it’s still a confusing topic for many when it comes to pre-employment drug screens. To clear up any confusion, here’s a breakdown:

WSI Celebrates National Staffing Employee Week

WSI Honors Contributions of Temporary, Contract Employees to Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana’s Economy

Celebrations Planned for National Staffing Employee Week, Sept. 16–22

Kalamazoo, MI, September 16, 2019—WSI, based in Kalamazoo, is joining staffing agencies from across the nation in celebrating National Staffing Employee Week, Sept. 16–22. Founded by the American Staffing Association, this commemorative week honors the millions of temporary and contract employees working for U.S. staffing agencies each week.

In Michigan, Ohio and Indiana alone, 380,200 temporary and contract employees work in the staffing and recruiting industry every week. These positions are across industry sectors and professions, and the majority are full-time. These jobs also can lead to permanent work, according to ASA research.

“National Staffing Employee Week salutes the temporary and contract employees who contribute to the economy of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and that of the entire nation,” said Erica Bohms, Director of Staffing Operations with WSI. “WSI is proud to be part of an industry that provides jobs to employees and flexible workforce solutions to businesses and contributes to the economy.”

So, how are we showing our appreciation? WSI is celebrating National Staffing Week by holding gift card giveaways, delivering snacks to associates during their breaks, sending “thank you” notes, announcing Associates of the Year, and more.

To learn more about WSI, visit https://www.wsitalent.com/staffing-solutions/.

To learn more about the staffing and recruiting industry in Michigan, visit americanstaffing.net.

Staff Spotlight – Christy K.

Welcome to our very first Staff Spotlight! This month we’ll be featuring (drum roll please….) Christy Kiezer! Christy is our Business Development Manager for the Grand Rapids area and has done great things in her time at WSI. Although we like to think we know her pretty well, we had fun learning some more fun facts. Let’s get started!

How to Handle Constructive Criticism

Criticism: whether it’s intended as constructive or not, many of us react with defensiveness and anger. How dare they tell me how to do my job! you might think. Constructive feedback not only increases perspective and bonds, but it also cultivates a trustworthy workplace.

Helpful Resources to Keep on Your Radar

Life is known to throw us a few curveballs (or twenty). During those times, it’s beneficial to know what resources are at your disposal. WSI has researched a few helpful programs to keep on your radar for when life decides to, well, happen.

Money Saving Tips and Tricks

Budget. Savings. Finances. If these words make you break out in a sweat or laugh dismissively, keep reading for a few easy changes you can make to save your hard-earned cash.