Maine employers are currently faced with a 3.5% unemployment rate, which means we are undoubtedly in a job seeker’s market. In order to remain competitive, hiring managers throughout Maine are rethinking their recruitment strategies.

So what exactly is a job seeker’s market? To put it simply, it means there are more job openings than there are availble job seekers. And for you, the employer, it means you need to be able to attract the passive job seeker. You know – that top performer that is currently employed, but keeping their options open. Gone are the days of posting an online job advertisement and being inundated with qualified candidates. Now you are on the hunt. 

As a top staffing firm, Manpower has learned how to thrive in all types of markets and have some tips to help you be successful too. 

What Took Us So Long?

For 56 years Manpower has been Maine’s leading staffing firm. We are experts in matching Maine’s best talent with Maine’s best companies, and now that expertise is available to jobseekers and employers in Aroostook County.

This location will be led by Penny Picard, Managing Director/Safety Manager. Penny has been a leader within the Manpower organization for more than 11 years. 

Our new office is located at 3 Houlton Rd, where will be a proud new neighbor of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to meeting with you, and allowing the convenience of our new location to help you meet your employment needs. 

About Manpower:

Manpower Maine is a locally owned and globally connected division of ManpowerGroup. We have been helping put Maine to work since 1961 through temporary and permanent placement services. Whether you are looking for your next great job or your next great employee – we are here. 

Let us help you find your perfect match today, contact us to learn more. 

Chemist Needed in Portland

Looking to take your chemistry experience and put it to use at a company that appreciates work/life balance? We have a client looking to hire a Chemist on to their growing team on a permanent basis. This global company is making their mark on the world and improving lives, and you will play a crucial role in advancing their mission

Let Manpower help you make a good career move, simply click the button to contact a Recruiter.

When you think of staffing agencies, do you think: “opportunity, competitive wages, varied skilled jobs?” Or, are you one of the few that believe the myths? In this post we will outline some common misnomers about staffing companies, and hopefully help you find another tool for your tool box.

View the infographic.

The key to success: Make the most out of every job you have and realize that success breeds success. All work is noble, all work is meaningful and we are happy to be a part of your career journey. 

Together We Will Keep Maine Working

In these unprecedented times it is nice to know you have options. Many essential State of Maine departments are finding themselves short-staffed and facing an increased demand for their services. As your approved staffing partner through our contract with the State of Maine, we are poised to help you through these challenging times.

We are currently working with many organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19 to help bridge their workers to new jobs. No one was planning on this pandemic, and its ripple effects are far-reaching. While no one is certain of what the future may hold, what we do know is that many Maine people are looking for work – and there are essential employers that are actively hiring. We have the capability and the expertise needed to help make those matches.

Approved Vendor Since 2016

After a thorough RFP Process, Manpower was selected as an approved provider of temporary staffing services for the State of Maine in 2016 and received a contract extension in 2018 that runs through June 30, 2021.  Based on the written proposal, Manpower was selected as the highest rated overall provider – a designation that we will work hard to prove was well deserved. It is through this contract that State agencies, like you, are able to quickly and efficiently secure temporary staffing services by following the state approved process.

From the State of Maine Website:

“To create a Delivery Order with the vendor, you can click on this “how to“ link and follow the advantage instructions. PLEASE NOTE: Each Delivery Order must have a Temporary Staffing Authorization form attached.

When you receive an acceptable invoice, payment must be made within 30 days from when you receive the invoice. You may need to contact your Service Center to accomplish this part of the process, which will vary by department”.

Manpower’s Vendor Information Vendor Name: Maine Business Services dba Manpower VC#: 18P-16070700000000000003

Better Access. Better Match. Better Results.

You need the right people, at the right time in order to increase productivity and drive business results. With Manpower’s full spectrum of human resources services, you will not only gain confidence in your hires, but also reduce your hiring timelines and cost. Whether you need 1 or 100 associates, Manpower has all the tools and experience to meet your needs. With 8 offices throughout Maine, we have you covered from York to Aroostook county – and everywhere in between. 

What We Offer

As a full-spectrum staffing service we offer temporary, temp-to-perm, and permanent hiring solutions. Uncertain times require flexible solutions – and flexible solutions are what Manpower offers. Our talent is finding you yours, so you can focus your efforts on driving business results. Your involvement in the selection and hiring process is all up to you and your comfort level. Many Maine employers trust Manpower to manage the complete process, while others want to stay involved. That choice is entirely up to you and we will support you in the best way that you see fit.

Our 6 Point Process

Step 1: Discover

We are committed to building a strong foundation that delivers quality results. That foundation is built on getting a clear understanding about your unique needs, position, culture, and requirements. We have found that spending a little time upfront speaking with you and getting to know more about the specific skills and qualities you are looking for in a candidate, as well as the unique intricacies of your work environment, will best enable us to develop a high-impact recruiting strategy.

Step 2: Recruit

Once we have thoroughly identified your needs, we immediately tap into our network of active candidates to identify any potential matches. We also create a strategic employment marketing plan to ensure that the messaging in our ads and the placement of them is likely to drive the best possible response. We also deploy our sourcing team to proactively solicit candidates that may not see our ads but are passively seeking work.

Step 3: Qualify

Qualifying candidates is a critical component in making the right match the first time. Once we have identified candidates that appear to have the skills you are seeking, we will then take the opportunity to more thoroughly screen them based on your requirements. This can involve both traditional screening methods in addition to validated skills assessments.

Step 4: Match

Once we present a candidate to you, they have already been screened for skills, experience, and interest in the position you are offering.  From that point you determine the next steps, you may decide to have us move forward with the candidate right away, or you could opt to hold your own screening process. No matter how you choose to proceed, our team will be right there helping to streamline the process, facilitate connection, and navigate any potential negotiations. 

Step 5: Onboard

Now that a hiring decision has been made, we are here to ensure that your new associate completes all necessary paperwork and training to ensure a smooth transition into your workforce. We take the time to go over all policies and procedures. A successful onboarding is key to setting the right tone and expectations with any new team member.

Step 6: Engage

As your employment partner, we strive for ongoing satisfaction. Maintaining open lines of communication with both the associates and the supervisors is embedded into our process. Staying engaged with all involved parties helps to maintain and/or improve performance as well as increase overall assignment satisfaction. We are a committed to providing exceptional service through the entire employment life-cycle.

Take advantage of all the tools in your toolbox…

3 Things To Keep In Mind As We Work Together

By: Katie Ramirez, Assistant Recruiter, Manpower 

There is no bigger investment for a company than the people that they hire to do the work! Your employees are your brand. They directly drive your bottom-line and have the ability to bring your organization to great heights, which is why it is critical to build a strong relationship with your staffing services provider.

As any partner should, Manpower realizes that we are an extension of your organization, and we are committed to not only making your job easier by finding the best possible candidates for your positions, but we also take pride in being good stewards of your brand and reputation. By allowing us to do what we do best, you are allowing yourself to do what you do best – focusing on the big picture.

To help us be the type of partner you can rely on, here are a few things to keep in mind as we work together.

Don’t Be Afraid To Brag

We want to know all about you! In addition to learning about the job duties and qualifications for the position we are filling for you, we also want to learn about what makes you special. What is the workplace culture like? What makes your employees excited and proud about the work that they do and the company as a whole? Knowing these things better enables us to help you find your person – not just a person who can fulfill the written job description, but the person who will be the best long-term fit for your organization.

Tell Us About What Else You’ve Tried

Are you experiencing a high turnover with the same positions? Have that one job that you just can’t seem to fill? Have you faced any unique challenges in trying to find the right person for a particular opening? Tell us about it. At Manpower, we’re not just experts at recruiting, we are experts in the world of work. We have indepth knowledge on the labor market and have indepth knowledge on both local and global trends. The more we can learn about the challenges you have faced and the approaches you have tried, the better positioned we are to troubleshoot the issue and provide you with a lasting solution.

Never Hesitate To Give Honest Feedback

Our job isn’t over the moment a Manpower associate walks through your door. In order to be good partners we need to ensure your needs are being met for the long-term, which is why we are always available for your questions, comments or concerns. Providing us with timely feedback about an associate’s performance helps us do right by you – if they are ever any issues, we will swiftly address them so that you can keep addressing the needs of your business. This is a partnership so not only are we open to your feedback, we welcome it!

If you would like more information about what we have to offer or how we can help you, call your local office today for a free, no-obligation consultation! You will be glad you did. 

3 Ways To Prevent Bad Luck From Affecting Your Work

By: Heidi Sawyer, Manager, Market Engagement, Manpower 

Sometimes there may come a point in your career when you feel like you are in a rut of bad luck or headed towards one. Perhaps you recognize that you aren’t performing the best. Maybe there has been some shakeup in the company and a restructuring appears to be on the horizon. Or, you have had some personal issues that have invaded space in your mind while you are at work.

The last thing that you want is to have any of the issues mentioned above to lead to more stress and more bad luck.

So, whether you are trying to get out of a rut or simply looking for ways to avoid them, instead of booking that trip to kiss the Blarney Stone – why not consider some of these options.

Take A Self-Assessment

Those that take the time to self-reflect on their performance in an honest and detailed way are often some of the people that are the most successful. It is likely that you know before your boss does that you are under-performing. So, why not address it yourself…before they have to?

Take a good account of how you are spending your time. Are you being sidetracked by non work related issues? Are you being as efficient as possible?

If you are feeling like you are underperforming, are you clear on what your performance expectations are? If not, ask for some clarity. If you are clear on the expectations, dig further to find out what is holding you back from meeting them and look for some creative solutions to help you conquer the rut.

Since we all can pick up some bad habits along the way; sometimes just going back to the very basics and focusing on the foundational pieces of your work will make a world of difference.

Focus on What You Can Control 

When things don’t seem to be going our way all too often we try to control everything, only to quickly find out that the more we try to control the less control we actually have.

Whether changes are looming in your company, or they have already taken place – the best thing you can do is focus on your little piece of the corporate puzzle. Keep your head down, stay focused on your work and your behavior and let the rest of the chips fall where they may. Even if luck doesn’t go your way you will be able to walk away with your head held high knowing that you did your job to the best of your ability and, chances are, with some terrific references for future employers to call.

Treat Work As Your Safe Haven

I am sure you have all been told that you need to leave your personal problems at the door when you get to work. Just saying it that way sounds cold and harsh and the truth is, it just isn’t always possible. What is happening in our lives outside of work often weighs heavily on us no matter where we are so to expect you drop it at the door is perhaps a bit much.

What we recommend – is to treat work as your safe haven away from life’s obstacles, again like above a place where you know exactly what you can control. Work is a place you can escape from your home life, and home is a place to escape from your work challenges. Creating that line is often going to lead you to peace. When all else fails use the resources provided to you by your employer (ie. personal time off and employee assistance hotlines)

If you are looking for something new, or curious about what opportunities are out there, take a moment to register. Who knows, maybe you will be lucky and one of these positions will lead to the pot of gold you have been looking for!

While it is true that you can’t make everyone love you – you can, however, be someone that you would be proud to be around and take specific steps to build positive and meaningful relationships at work. Here are 5 very simple ways that you can show your peers, in everyday interactions, that you are committed to working together and being someone they can count on!