As a top job placement agency serving St. Louis, Fenton, and Pacific, we’ve seen it all: from a global pandemic to a booming economy. When you’ve connected job seekers with career opportunities for as long as we have, you start picking up on a few tips and tricks.
If you are looking to take the next step on your career path, whether it’s your first or your last, you may want to consider working with a job placement agency in St. Louis. Consider the following bits of advice that we’ve collected over the past couple of decades as a premier employment agency in St. Louis.
Have a Plan
Over the years, we have found that the most successful job seekers develop a plan before sending out applications. When developing your plan, it’s a good idea to include a little flexibility. Don’t get tunnel-vision on one very specific type of job or half a dozen “dream” companies to work for.
Start by figuring out the industry in which you’d like to work and a few positions in that industry for which you’re qualified. Write down a reasonable salary range and the type of company culture that best suits your work style. It’s important to keep your career stage in mind when developing your plan. For example, if you have some experience, it may be time to move on from entry-level jobs that you know like the back of your hand.
Finally, you need to consider work-life balance. While most people want a standard “9-to-5” job, some people may be more open to shift work or part-time positions. For example, a parent of young children may want to work evenings or weekends to manage childcare responsibilities. An effective employment agency in St. Louis will be able to help you find the right situation.
It’s a good idea to put this plan in writing and some people use a spreadsheet to track their progress. Consider setting goals like applying to a certain number of jobs per week or spending a certain number of hours on building new skills.
Work with the Right Staffing Agency
Once you have a plan in place, start looking at different employment agencies in St. Louis and the surrounding area. Almost all agencies will list the industries they serve and the types of jobs within them.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to different job placement agencies in St. Louis and discuss your plan. Good agency recruiters will be able to offer you valuable advice and talk about how their company can help you achieve your goals. In general, steer clear of agencies that ask for commissions, as most recruiters in St. Louis are paid by their client companies and not job seekers.
Sit Down with Agency Recruiters in St. Louis
Once you have a plan in place and have identified the right agency, set up a meeting with a job agency recruiter. Even though this meeting isn’t technically a job interview, you should treat it like one. A recruiter’s job is to connect you with the best fit possible, and if you don’t present yourself professionally, you will give the wrong impression. This means dressing professionally and being
punctual. Be attentive and maintain good posture. Bring your job search plan and your resume. Be prepared for some basic interview questions.
Contact Us for Expert Job Search Assistance
At Westside Personnel, we have some of the best recruiters in St. Louis, Pacific, Fenton and the surrounding areas, all under one umbrella. Getting expert advice from our staff members on general labor and staffing questions is just a click away.