WORKPLACE STAFFING SERVICES - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

By Maria Prinzo, advertising writer

Career-focused placement services:

The success of WorkPlace Staffing Services employment agency is largely due to a simple but effective concept: “Treat people with respect”. According to Kerry Ilkanic, Executive Director, whether you are an applicant looking for a job or an employer looking to fill a position, meeting your needs is a top priority. WorkPlace Staffing Services specializes in permanent placements, temp-to-hire and temporary services. The primary focus, however, is on permanent placement. Ilkanic said, “We are more concerned with a long-term employee/employer relationship, and we measure success by satisfaction.”

Individualized attention:

The first step for our applicant is a telephone interview. Then an appointment is scheduled to have a one on one in-depth interview to learn the applicants desired career path. From there it is a relationship formed for a common goal – a career. Our counselors are trained to match applicants with job positions. Education, work related skills, schedules, benefits and salary needs are all taken into consideration to make the best match. This produces a win-win situation for the applicant and the employer.

Coaching candidates:

You will see the difference at WorkPlace Staffing Services when it comes to coaching. A consultative approach is taken with each applicant. The applicant is educated regarding the various components of the job, the company’s expectations and the culture of the company. In addition the applicant is given interviewing tips and a guide for professional appearance. This process gives the applicant the best opportunity to get the job.

Employers like the difference:

Employers use WorkPlace as their “trusted advisor”. They like our philosophy of extensive screening to make a perfect match for long term employment. They know we do our homework. They appreciate the qualified reference check, background investigations, skill testing using a state-of-the art testing software. WorkPlace can perform a drug screen upon request. Because of our strong referral base we are sure to find a candidate to their liking. They like that we consider all job seekers not just the unemployed.

Founded on a strong foundation:

“When the staffing industry suffered a slowing after September 11, 2001, the counselors at WorkPlace Staffing persevered and the agency continued to grow” said Ilkanic. It has, in fact, shown a 20-percent growth each year over the last six years. It is fair to credit the founders’ resourcefulness for that growth. Ten years ago, after a downsizing by their employer, these owners turned a major problem into a major opportunity they became entrepreneurs. Donna Young, Linda Kelly and Sylvia Newman decided to match their experience and skills with the demands they saw in the marketplace. That match became WorkPlace. Making their human resource, medical management and financial background the foundation, they began to deliver services in the areas of medical billing, management, home health and staffing. This was the birth of WorkPlace Staffing, but it has grown from medical staffing into the areas of mid-level support positions, legal, customer service and hospitality. The service area for WorkPlace expanded from Cuyahoga Falls, to Akron, Canton, to the southern suburbs of Cleveland.

Known for integrity:

WorkPlace Staffing Services is a member in good standing with the American Staffing Association. It aligns itself with the organization’s guidelines established for education, ethics and laws. Kerry Ilkanic is a Certified Staffing Professional and maintains 20 continuing education credits annually. Being a member of the Better Business Bureau is a given. “We are partners with the community, our candidates and our employers. As a result, the turnover at WorkPlace Staffing Services is very low. We are here to stay,” said Ilkanic. “I’ve never worked at a better place.” She said, emphasizing how much the owners care about the community and their employees. Kerry Ilkanic believes in the staffing industry. She used an agency for herself when looking for a job early in her career and enjoyed the process. She later decided to make it her career. Through the years Kerry was fortunate to receive mentoring and was privileged to work with a few top CEO’s that have provided excellent advice, education and training.

Involved in the community:

The sentiment is contagious among all WorkPlace employees, who are eager to help others. They recently served as change bandits for “Have a Heart, Do Your Part Radio-thon” for Akron Children’s Hospital. They adopt a family each year at Christmas, buying presents and getting together to wrap the gifts before delivering them to a needy family. WorkPlace Staffing will be a sponsor for the upcoming “Relay for Life” to raise money for cancer research. Employees also gather coats, sheets and other items for the Battered Women’s Shelter and Sparrow Harbor, a safe haven for single women with children. “It’s a team effort here,” Ilkanic said. “No one is out to succeed alone, and it reflects in the work we do for others.”

This article was featured in the Akron Beacon Journal in April 2007