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Annie
Bennett (left) and Jill Johnson work out of the
Pat Christman
February 14, 2011
Bennett
finds right fit between employer, employee
When Annie Bennett, sales account
manager for Jeane Thorne, meets with business owners and human resource
directors, she keeps the appointment short, asks questions, listens, and learns
what they need in an employee.
“We’re the matchmaker. We find that person in our registry that has the skill
set and will offer more than the employer expects,” said Bennett of Eagle Lake.
Since becoming sales account manager last September, Bennett has proven to be a
quick study and has established a firm grasp of the financial, legal and
administrative job market in
What she’s learned is that businesses are starting to hire employees, and the
first and second quarter look promising. Potential and current clients have
opened up about the challenge of weeding through 75 resumes to narrow the field
to six. Here’s what Bennett tells them.
“Let us help you with that screening process. We can narrow the field to three
top candidates and focus on the perfect fit,” Bennett said.
While Bennett focuses on serving and growing Jeane Thorne’s client base,
Account Manager Jill Johnson works to recruit quality candidates for their
talent pool. Together they help make connections between the two.
“They have such an interest in what clients need and employees need. They have
real drive to move the office forward. I’m glad to have them on board,” said
Jeane Thorne CEO Mary Marso from the
In 1994, Marso opened Jeane Thorne’s only branch office in
Marso also has deep connections to
Now Marso is banking on Bennett’s energy, creativity and customer skills to serve
Bennett’s strategy is to sign on one or two companies per community so she can
fill positions effectively in the short term and build the Jeane Thorne
reputation in the long term.
“It’s the employees that make our reputation. Jeane Thorne is the process,”
Bennett said.
Job market
In today’s employment market, employers have left positions open and employees
are stretched to cover the work. Many laid-off workers haven’t been motivated
to update skills and network in a weak job market.
Another reality is lower salaries. The going rate for administrative positions
is $10 to $12 an hour and $12 to $14 an hour for accounting positions.
Bennett is working to educate employers that staffing too leanly is not always
the most effective way to operate. Bennett and Johnson also are helping their
candidates boost their skills and market themselves.
The good news is that Jeane Thorne is receiving and fulfilling requests for
temporary employees for projects and medical leaves, as well as temp-to-hire
positions.
Doug Kalahar, longtime human resources manager for
the Hiniker Company, has been a Jeane Thorne client for years and finds the
temp-to-hire process works well.
“Based on my experience, they present good qualified candidates. I’m pleased,” Kalahar said.
Business moves fast in the temporary employment business. Clients call on
Monday and expect to interview a candidate the next day, which sets off a
flurry of phone calls to qualified candidates to schedule an interview.
Jeane Thorne generates revenue through employer contracts. For example, an
employer signs a contract with Jeane Thorne for 800 hours for a full-time
employee. During the contracted hours, the employee is employed by Jeane
Thorne. The business pays Jeane Thorne to cover the employee’s payroll, taxes,
benefits and unemployment insurance.
“The benefit for the business is it lets the business try out the employee to
see if it’s a good fit,” Bennett said.
If it is a good fit, the employer can buy out the contract early or hire the
employee at the end of the contract. If not, Jeane Thorne will find somebody
else.
Talent Pool
For job seekers, Jeane Thorne placement services are free. To recruit
candidates, Bennett and Johnson attend job fairs, search websites and network.
Then Jeane Thorne conducts a thorough screening. All candidates take its online
Prove It! Tests on grammar, spelling, math and the Microsoft Office Suite.
Specialty tests for the financial and legal fields are available. The results
define a candidate’s skill sets.
Many companies are looking for accounts payable and receivable employees with
three to five years experience and knowledge of Microsoft QuickBooks, noted
Bennett. In fact, Bennett advises job candidates to take a QuickBooks course
because the skill is in such demand.
“What we try to do is make you marketable,” Bennett said. “What do you bring to
the table that makes you extraordinary?”
Bennett and Johnson look closely at their candidates’ resumes. They require a
skill summary at the top of the page and often refer candidates to the
In May 2010, Patrice Mattison, a paralegal and executive administrative
assistant, was placed at AgStar in
“I so admire that they (Jeane Thorne) never forgot me,” Mattison said. “It’s so
perfect. It was in the legal department and I was graduating with my paralegal
degree.”
Once a candidate makes the Jeane Thorne registry, Bennett is a proactive
marketing partner. The best part of her career is when she makes the perfect
placement for her candidates and employers.
“I get pretty excited about it,” Bennett said.
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Jeane
Thorne expects hiring to pick up the first half of this year.
John Cross