• Has your staffing or recruitment firm moved your career to the next level?
• Did you have an exceptional customer service encounter that should be shared?
• Did your recruiter go the extra mile to assist you in finding the “perfect” position?
• Not sure if your “exceptional experience” is worthy for submission? Ask your recruiter or staffing consultant for assistance!

The contest is a part of the celebrations underway for Staffing for Canada Week, June 5^th to 11^th, 2011. Share your “exceptional experience” by writing a 500 to 800 word essay and be eligible to win prizes.

The People Bank recognizes the achievements of an employee for their selfless act of courage.

Andy expected nothing out of the ordinary as he began his shift last Thursday at an automotive assembly plant in Woodstock, ON. The events that ensued catapulted this People Bank employee to hero status and forever changed the life of a fellow co-worker. 

While bending over to pick something up off the floor, Andy found a fellow employee in the throes of a seizure.  Andy quickly tended to the emergency, turning the man to his side and then holding him firmly until the arrival of an ambulance.  Particularly frightening was the close proximity in which the man lay to the assembly line and its metal parts- any aggressive movements could have resulted in head injury.

As a direct result of Andy's quick-thinking and cool head, the seizure victim is now expected to make a full recovery. 

We have taken this time to praise Andy for his actions, and moreover, for his ability to move beyond the role of by-stander, making himself a part of the solution to what could have been a very dire situation.  The People Bank takes every measure to ensure that our employees are equipped with health and safety know-how and are incredibly proud to see how this manifests itself at times of emergency.  The People Bank wishes Andy continued success and is honoured to be able to call him an employee. 

Celebrating Staffing for Canada Week

As Canada continues a steady climb from the recession, temporary workers from across the country will be celebrating Staffing for Canada Week from June 6-12, 2010.  To read the full article, click here.

Stephen Jones, CPC, President of the Commercial Staffing Division, Design Group Staffing Inc.  appointed to his third term as National President.

To read the full article, visit CNW at:

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/cnw/article.jsp?content=20100517_162502_1_cnw_cnw

ACSESS, Association of Canadian Search, Employment And Staffing Services Announces 2010 Staffing Industry Award Winners

Sherri Strong, CPC, Manager of The People Bank Markham branch is honoured with a Special Recognition Award by the National Industry Association for her contributions to the development and improvements to the training for Certified Personnel Consultant industry designations.  To read the full article, visit CNW at: http://www.canadanewswire.com/fr/releases/archive/May2010/18/c4865.html

 The New Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Law
May 11th, 10am - 11am

You are invited to participate in a complimentary webinar on the amendments to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and the new Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Law. 

In this 55-minute webinar, Steve Jones and subject matter expert Christopher McOuat will discuss the new legal requirements in Ontario. You will receive valuable information and template samples that you can modify for your business.

We will be discussing:

• What constitutes workplace violence and harassment;
• Employer requirements and obligations under the new law;
• Prevention policies and programs;
• Risk assessments including domestic violence in the workplace;
• Worker rights; and
• Penalties associated with non-compliance.

Steve Jones is the President of The People Bank, a division of Design Group Staffing Inc. Design Group Staffing is Canada's largest privately owned staffing company. Steve has over 26 years of leadership experience in the recruitment and staffing industry. He is also the current President of ACSESS (Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services), the single national voice and governing body for staffing providers.

Christopher McOuat is The People Bank's Operational Excellence and Quality Control Team Lead. With over seven years' experience in this role, Christopher is responsible for developing, implementing and analyzing policies and procedures for ISO certification, Quality Management, and Workplace Health and Safety, including the new Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Legislation.

Please contact Tabetha Lightbody at tlightbody@thepeoplebank.com to register for this event!

Optimistic Signs for the Recovering Canadian Economy

Canadian Staffing Index Shows Good Gains in March
CNW: April 29, 2010

The March 2010 Canadian Index report was released this week by the Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services (ACSESS). As the economy continues its uphill battle to a more stabilized position, the Canadian Staffing Index for the month of March shows a positive trend.

ACSESS continues to believe there is a close correlation between staffing industry performance and the state of the economy. Based on this premise, future Staffing Indexes may be utilized as a "near real time" barometer of the Canadian economic performance.

The Index uses July 2008, prior to the recession, as the benchmark index of 100 and tracks the performance of the staffing industry on a monthly basis. The following are some observations based on the latest results.

While numbers for the period December through February reflect a seasonal drop which is typically experienced in the staffing industry, performance started to climb in February. The March 2010 index saw an increase of 15.5% over February 2009, and 11% over February 2010. The March report shows that the industry is now 18% off the 100 benchmark. This is a marked improvement from the overall findings of the index which at the low point experienced in May 2009 was down almost 40% from the October 2008 high.

"Although some of the increase over February numbers reflect a seasonal correction, the recovery that seemed to have stalled in December is now gaining momentum. We predict that April results will display another notable increase. Our industry is a leading indicator of economic performance, and we are confident in the ability of Canada's economy to show moderate but consistent growth throughout the balance of the year," Said Steve Jones, ACSESS National President.

To view the full article, visit CNW at http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/April2010/29/c7050.html.

Employment Data Shows Hope

Internet Job Boards - Friend or Foe?

By Steve Jones, CPC. March 11, 2010 for Working.com

The Internet and job boards have given you and the rest of the entire world an equal ability to discover and apply for all the same jobs.

The Internet and job boards have given you and the rest of the entire world an equal ability to discover and apply for all the same jobs. Technology makes it easier for the qualified and the unqualified to clutter the field making it more difficult for you to stand out from the crowd. Understanding Internet job board technology can give you the upper hand when developing your resume and employment application strategy.

Here are a few quick tips that will increase your job board application results:

Tip #1 - Resume Key Words
Most employers use indexed database technology where the words and phrases contained within your resume are stored and then searchable within the database. It is very important that your resume contains the words and phrases that an employer will likely use in their resume searching and filtering process. For example, you may have had the title of "Product Support Specialist" in a call centre for an electronics company. If your job search is focused around customer interaction then the words "Customer Service", "Call Centre", "Client Support", "Inbound" and "CSR" are common words and expressions that might work for you. On the other hand, if your career objective is more technically focused than people focused then you should shift the emphasis of words in your resume to describe the specific products and technologies that you are familiar with.

You already have the headings in your resume like “Career Objective”, “Education” and “Career History” so why not include a heading called “Key Words” then list a set of key words that might match common words used by employers when using a database search engine.

Tip #2 - .doc File Format
Employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to store and sort the resumes and applications they receive. Most ATS are capable of handling Microsoft word .doc file formats but many have difficulty handling resumes in other formats such as PDF, .docx, wpd, html and other standards. These formats may have their advantages but not when attaching your resume to an on-line application form. If the words and phrases within your resume cannot be extracted by the employer’s applicant tracking software then you run the risk of never being noticed by a real person. Always submit your resume in the world's most common format.

Tip #3 - Follow Up
The biggest problem with on-line systems is the lack of human interaction. In the end, people will hire people to work with other people. Do your research and figure out who the human resources or hiring manager is and then send them a personal note pointing out that you have applied on-line. Include a professional letter that contains information that will motivate them to bypass the computer sorting process and go directly to your application. Try to make contact in person, over the phone or by email.

We frequently hear people talk about how lucky or unlucky they are in their job search. Luck has nothing to do with it. Remember that the smarter you work, the luckier you'll get.

The People Bank is an active member of ACSESS, the Association of Canadian Search Employment and Staffing Services and Steve Jones is President of both The People Bank and ACSESS.

You can read this and other articles on Steve's blog, Staffing Leadership.

ACSESS Launches New Economic Indicator

• The Canadian Staffing Index continued to rise, cresting in October 2008 at a reading of 107 suggesting growth in the Canadian Staffing Industry of another 7% between July 2008 and October 2008.
• The recession started to impact Canadian Staffing Companies after this period resulting in a low reading of 65 in May 2009. This represents a 35% drop in revenues in the Canadian staffing industry.
• Since May 2009 there has been a steady, but slow recovery in revenues up until November 2009, when there was a small reversal from a reading of 78 in October to 77 in November, possibly caused by the introduction of Bill 139 in Ontario and its negative impact on employment.
• December continued the downward trend to a reading of 74 but this would likely be a seasonal adjustment based upon people working less hours due to the holiday period.

As of December 2009 the index suggests Canadian staffing companies are still 26% below the benchmark July 2008 numbers (31% below the October high). This suggests a recovery is underway but, in line with other thinking, it is a slow and steady recovery.

About the Canadian Staffing Index

Each month's index data is collected and compiled by Staffing Industry Analysts, the premier research and analysis firm covering temporary employment and the contingent workforce. The data is provided by a representative number of Canadian staffing companies providing services in provinces across the country.

The data is collected on a monthly basis, with the initial data capture going back to July 2008, providing real historical insight into the Canadian staffing landscape. The data sample collected is based on hours worked by temporary employees and is not seasonally adjusted. In the July 2008 benchmark month, the data represented more than 30,000 individuals employed as temporary employees across Canada.

ACSESS believes that this "real data" supports U.S. evidence that the Staffing Industry is a barometer of economic performance, and will provide information for economists, politicians, analysts, researchers and journalists in addition to members of the staffing industry.

Currently the data is available for the months July 2008 (the benchmark month) through to December 2009. Monthly updates will follow.

About ACSESS

ACSESS is the single voice for promoting best practices and ethical standards for the recruitment, employment and staffing services industry in Canada. For more information visit: www.acsess.org

About Staffing Industry Analysts

Staffing Industry Analysts is the premier research and analysis firm covering temporary employment and the contingent workforce. Known for its independent and objective insights, the company's proprietary research, data, support tools, publications, and executive conferences provide a competitive edge to decision-makers who supply and buy temporary staffing. In addition to temporary staffing, Staffing Industry Analysts also covers these related staffing service sectors: third-party placement, outplacement, and staff leasing (PEOs). Founded in 1989, the company is headquartered in Los Altos, California. For more information visit: www.staffingindustry.com.

To download the Index, click here.

Labour Force Survey

The results of the February 2010 Labour Force Survey have been released. According to Statistics Canada, Employment rose by 21,000 in February, with large gains in full-time work partly offset by losses in part time. Unemployment fell 0.1 percentage points to 8.2%.

Download the pdf version of the release here.

Design Group Staffing's Platinum Membership of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies

The People Bank Halifax has moved!