Snelling Staffing Launches Office Services Group

By Nicole Zaro Stahl, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Launching a new business division in an unsettled economy can be a challenge, but for Snelling Staffing Services, LLC it has been a very positive move. In February, the long-time Hacienda tenant, at 3825 Hopyard Road, rolled out its Office Services Group, focusing on client needs for professionals in the areas of finance, sales, marketing, customer service, human resources, and clerical and administrative functions. Candidates are being placed in temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire positions.

Christopher Hollinger and Ky Luu , both of whom have logged several years with the Snelling Pleasanton branch, are General Manager and Operations Manager, respectively, of the new group. Both of them were eager to address the new market. "Snelling has been operating in the Pleasanton market for over 15 years and we have successfully orchestrated partnerships between thousands of our candidates and clients," remarks Hollinger. "The new division is all recruiting, on the client and candidate sides."

Staffing is a competitive business, he admits, but a "consultative sell" and an emphasis on solutions help to set Snelling apart. So does the branch's low turnover. "Most people here have been with the company for a good 10 to 12 years," he observes, adding, "In a 'down' economy, we are still growing. We're in the top 10 percent of all the branches driving this new business. I think it's because we are a step above in our customer service and attention."

Response time to client requests is an important consideration. "We often hear a sense of urgency from the client, so we work hard to fill the position as quickly as possible. We've had a number of direct hires result from our placements. Finding good 'homes' for people is a great source of satisfaction."

To help make those matches, the firm uses the online computer skill assessment program Kenexa ProveIt. The program offers tutorials, demos, and real- time test results for companies and individuals with over 900 interactive, knowledge-based assessments and behavioral questionnaires. The tests are fine-tuned to measure variations in skill levels in areas from software proficiency to call center simulations to specialty medical terminology.

"We can test someone here in the office and submit the results immediately to a client to move the process forward quickly," explains Hollinger, adding, "it's a good selling tool." Candidates can also use the tutorials to upgrade their skills, another value-added benefit.

Privately held and headquartered in Dallas, Snelling has been in the staffing industry since 1951. The company started with a single office in Philadelphia, expanding to 50 offices by 1967. Now, the organization encompasses more than 200 offices generating over $400 million in sales. Some of the offices are franchised; the Pleasanton branch, with sister offices in Hayward and Tracy, are company-owned.

For more information about the new services, contact Hollinger at (925) 469-8160 or visit the branch's web site at www.snelling.com/Pleasantonosg. You can also test-drive the assessment program at http://snelling.proveit.com/.

Photo: Christopher Hollinger, left, and Ky Luu manage Snelling's new Office Services Group.

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