By Blake Quinlan of Express Professional Services (Express Pros)
The job market is incredibly fluid right now, whether you’re hunting for a job (or a better one) or looking for employees. Millions of people are leaving their positions during what’s being called the “Great Reshuffle,” with more than 4.5 million quitting in November 2021 alone.
Express Employment Professionals, a top global staffing firm that operates via local franchises, is on the front lines of this reshuffle. It employed 586,000 people around the world in 2021 and more than 10 million since its inception in 1983. Maricopa County has eight Express locations in Chandler, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix (Central), Phoenix (Southeast), Phoenix (South), Scottsdale and Tempe.
Scottsdale Franchise Manager Blake Quinlan works directly with client companies seeking long-term employees and job seekers eager to find a fulfilling role, and he has solid advice for both.
FOR EMPLOYERS
What can employers do to retain workers who may be considering leaving?
“I think the biggest thing that employers can do is be human,” Quinlan says. “Having compassion, empathy and patience with employees is the best way to retain them.” Just as the pandemic hasn’t affected everyone in the same way, he notes, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing people. Being adaptable and treating people as individuals are key.
Why is it beneficial for employers to consider candidates with crossover skills instead of direct experience?
“The biggest advantage is that it opens up the potential pool of candidates,” Quinlan explains. Express always views candidates through the lens of their skills and how they can be put to use in any position. This can also help with retention: “If you are looking for someone with direct experience, what is going to stop them from taking a five thousand dollar raise with your biggest competitor?,” he asks. Additionally, you can create loyalty by giving someone a chance in a new field or career.
What can employers do to make their offers more appealing to candidates?
“I think this goes back to our first point of adaptability,” Quinlan notes. Work-from-home arrangements are one of the biggest “asks” from employees, with 9 out of 10 people who have been working from home during the pandemic saying they want to continue to do so at least one day a week, according to a survey on behalf of Prudential.
Flexibility with commute times, childcare and even pet care can make one employer more attractive than the next as well. Also, fewer employees are willing to work without benefits, so it’s ideal to offer them as part of the compensation package.
FOR EMPLOYEES
What are some signs for an employee who might be thinking of switching jobs that now is the right time to do it?
"Our third-party Labor Market Analytics partner, EMSI Burning Glass, has some excellent data for us on this,” Quinlan states. “Over the past five years, the Phoenix Metro area has seen employment increase by 9.9 percent. The national growth rate over that time is 0.4 percent.” After some volatile times during the pandemic, the market has rebounded to pre-2020 levels, with unemployment in the Phoenix Metro area below 2.9 percent now, so it’s a job seeker’s market.
How can candidates who are looking to switch fields or careers stand out to recruiters?
“It’s been said for years that it requires no skill to show up on time and have a positive attitude,” Quinlan says, “and I think that still rings true. Having an adaptable and hungry mindset will always help a candidate stand out.”
FOR BOTH
What resources does Express Employment Professionals offer to employers and employees to help meet their needs during this challenging hiring time?
“For employers, we try to use as much data as we can to show them what is happening in the market,” Quinlan remarks. Also, candidates are vetted thoroughly and go through an intensive interview process face-to-face with an employment specialist. “We’re not just trying to fill a job; we want to help client companies find long-term employees because training and turnover is expensive,” he adds.
In addition, Express works with client companies to make them as attractive as possible to job seekers, who have their pick of openings right now.
For candidates, Express offers free career conversations, resume tweaks and general advice. They also do a very thorough interview asking different questions than a company would ask because we want to get a sense of how far they want to drive, the pay and benefits they seek, the company culture that would be the best fit, and more.
All Express offices are locally owned and operated, so each franchise has a vested interest in the success of the placements.
About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals is in the business of people. It connects job seekers to client companies to help people thrive and businesses grow. The company provides a full range of employment solutions including full-time, temporary, and part-time employment in a wide range of positions such as professional, office services and light industrial. In 2022, it was recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers.