WSI HIRING EVENT | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

[Grand Rapids, MI]: WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. had such a great turnout for their last job fair, they’re hosting another one at its Grand Rapids location (1960 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508) on September 9th, 2020.

“We still have hundreds of openings for qualified workers throughout Grand Rapids,” says Ana Post, Branch Manager at WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. “We also have THC-friendly opportunities, as many of our clients are no longer looking at a THC free drug screen as a pre-employment condition.”

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., works with various companies throughout Grand Rapids in industries ranging from food manufacturing, light industrial, aerospace, facility services, and more. 

Steve Beebe, Vice President at WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. says, “Most job seekers don’t think of going to a staffing agency for help finding a permanent job – many of the companies we work with are looking for workers they can hire in permanently.”

Additionally, WSI is currently conducting two lucrative referral programs where job seekers can earn money referring others to work for WSI. Referees have the chance to win $200 per referral, plus a chance to win free rent (up to $1,000).

Due to COVID-19, all applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner prior to entering the building. Face masks are required inside – if you don’t have one, WSI will provide one for you. Interior areas will be marked with 6-foot distances and there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., is anticipating a large turnout for the Job Fair on September 9th. To help expedite the process, job seekers should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to pass a drug screening. Applicants can also call the WSI office at (616) 957-8199.

Highlights:

  • WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc.
  • 1960 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
  • September 9th, 2020
  • 10 am – 2 pm
  • Hundreds of open jobs available
  • Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification

Hospi-facturing: Where Hospitality and Manufacturing Collide

While almost every industry has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, none have been hit as hard as the hospitality sector. From the closing of restaurants and bars to the restrictions placed on travel, the leisure and hospitality industry has lost 7.7 million jobs in April alone. That accounts for 47% of all positions. 

“Working in a restaurant means being part of a family for most,” says Dani Mullins, WSI Account Manager with over 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry. “Right now there are lots of lost people out there looking for a home and a sense of belonging that would benefit from a new opportunity.”

So, what are these hospitality workers to do in the meantime? The additional unemployment benefits and stimulus package kept furloughed waiters, hotel clerks, bartenders, and more afloat for awhile. But the extra funding has ended and many hospitality jobs are still unavailable or operating on reduced hours. Here’s where hospi-facturing comes in. 

If you think about it, hospitality and manufacturing aren’t so different.

Hospitality Manufacturing
• Serves people
• Transports tourists
• Prepares towels/bedding for guests
• Uses technology and machines
• Serves suppliers
• Transports products
• Washes/prepares garments for all industries
• Uses technology and machines

WSI identified this comparison in industries and saw an opportunity to provide short term solutions for those affected. Hospitality provides workers with easily transferable skills to move into a temporary manufacturing position during this time of shutdown. And, it even provides some benefits hospitality workers may not have enjoyed before, such as:

  • Steady schedule
  • Consistent pay
  • Holidays and weekends off
  • Multiple shift opportunities (for early risers and night-owls)
  • Temporary work

Think hospi-facturing may be a good fit for you? Take the quiz to find out!

To learn about WSI’s part in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, read our blog: Our Role and Responsibility: Navigating Through COVID-19

For community resources, check out: Community Resources you can use Today

WSI Hiring Event | Battle Creek, MI

[Battle Creek, MI]: WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. had such a great turnout for their last job fair, they’re hosting another one at its Battle Creek location (201 Fritz Keiper Blvd, Battle Creek, MI 49037) on September 9th, 2020.

“We still have hundreds of openings for qualified workers throughout Battle Creek,” says Aliyah Fadel, Branch Manager at WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. “We also have part-time opportunities, including weekend shifts, that work well for parents whose younger students are participating in virtual schooling.” 

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., works with various companies throughout Battle Creek in industries ranging from food manufacturing, light industrial, aerospace, facility services, and more. 

Steve Beebe, Vice President at WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. says, “Most job seekers don’t think of going to a staffing agency for help finding a permanent job – many of the companies we work with are looking for workers they can hire in permanently.”

Additionally, WSI is currently conducting two lucrative referral programs where job seekers can earn money referring others to work for WSI. Referees have the chance to win $200 per referral, plus a chance to win free rent (up to $1,000).

Due to COVID-19, all applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner prior to entering the building. Face masks are required inside – if you don’t have one, WSI will provide one for you. Interior areas will be marked with 6-foot distances and there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., is anticipating a large turnout for the Job Fair on September 9th. To help expedite the process, job seekers should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to pass a drug screening. Applicants can also call the WSI office at (269) 968-1008.

Highlights:

  • WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc.
  • 201 Fritz Keiper Blvd, Battle Creek, MI 49037
  • September 9th, 2020
  • 10 am – 4 pm
  • Hundreds of open jobs available
  • Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification 

Common Staffing Agency Myths

A staffing agency can be really helpful when you’re looking for a job. But many people people hesitate to use staffing agencies to find employment because they’ve either had a negative experience or heard some questionable things through the grapevine – like these 5 myths.

Continue reading

Does Recreational THC Inhibit Job Performance?

On November 6th, 2018, Michigan residents voted for the legalization of recreational marijuana use. This act allows adults 21 years and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants in their home for recreational use. While the use of recreational marijuana may be legal in many states, most of these state’s laws do not inhibit an employer’s ability to deny employment to applicants with THC in their system. This legalization forces companies to ask themselves: Does using recreational marijuana off company time impact job performance? Some of our clients say no. 

While the workplace remains a drug-free environment, many of our clients have loosened their pre-employment requirements by no longer screening for THC. “They’ve realized there is a difference between being impaired and having it in their system.,” said WSI Vice President, Steve Beebe, in a recent interview with WWMT. “We are seeing more and more companies that are allowing that and not looking at it as a pre-employment condition.”

Beebe goes on to say that whether or not you’re screened for THC is on a company-to-company basis. You may not be initially screened, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be asked to test for THC later on. Instances such as being up for a promotion in a higher risk job, like a forklift operator, may require a screen.

It seems there has been a shift in society and that the stigma associated with using recreational marijuana lessens the more we discover about the drug. In a July 2019 Gallup poll, 12% of U.S. adults said they smoke marijuana, a percentage that is essentially unchanged since 2015. 

For more information about the legalization of marijuana in Michigan, check out our blog: Let’s Be Blunt

CANCELLED – Onsite Job Fair in St. Joseph County

[Three Rivers, MI]: Here’s your chance to work on Broadway! (Street…we mean Broadway Street.) WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., is hosting a job fair onsite at Precision Wire Forms Inc. (1100 W Broadway St, Three Rivers, MI) on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020. 

“We have a lot of openings for qualified workers at Precision Wire,” says Courtney McCauley, WSI Account Manager. “Job seekers can stop by today and start work tomorrow!”

Workforce Strategies, Inc. works with various companies throughout St. Joseph County in industries ranging from auto manufacturing, light industrial, warehouse, and more. They are teaming up with Precision Wire Forms to fill full-time Machine Operator roles on 1st and 2nd shift. Precision Wire Forms has been an industry-leading manufacturer of OEM automotive wire forms, tube forms, and assemblies since 1997. Employees enjoy medical benefits, vacation time, and a variety of growth opportunities upon hire-in. Pay rates for Machine Operator roles begin at $12/hour. 

Due to COVID-19, all applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner prior to entering the building. Face masks are required inside – if you don’t have one, WSI will provide one for you. Interior areas will be marked with 6-foot distances and there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.

 Highlights:

 ·       Job Fair, WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. & Precision Wire Forms, Inc. (Three Rivers)

·       September 2nd, 2020

·       10:00 am – 3:00 pm

·       Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification

Please contact the Kalamazoo WSI Office with any questions.

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., is anticipating a large turnout for the Job Fair on September 2nd.  To help expedite the process, job seekers should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to pass a drug screening. Applicants can also call the WSI office at (269) 488-5100 or go to WSI’s blog for more details.

WSI Gets Cheeky in Paw Paw

[Paw Paw, MI]: Workforce Strategies, Inc., an award-winning staffing and recruiting firm, accelerates growth by establishing an office in Paw Paw, MI. Headquartered in Kalamazoo, this new office marks the seventh WSI location. The grand opening will take place on Thursday, August 27th where the company will also be hosting a job fair from 10 am – 2 pm.

The new office is located inside Cheeky Print Shop, a custom apparel and paper printing business, at 233 East Michigan Avenue. How are staffing and printing related, you may ask? Through a familial tie of its employees, of course. The owner of Cheeky Print Shop, Jeff Bohms, is the brother of WSI Director of Staffing Operations, Erica Bohms-Coon. 

“This has nothing to do with sibling rivalry, I swear,” laughs Erica. “WSI has several employment opportunities throughout VanBuren County, and we identified Paw Paw as the ideal location to serve job seekers there, as well as Mattawan, Decatur, and Lawton. So when my brother offered the available space in his apparel shop, we made shirt to jump on the opportunity.”

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., works with various companies throughout Southwest Michigan in industries ranging from food manufacturing, light industrial, warehouse, facility services, and more. 

Steve Beebe, Vice President at WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc. says, “Most job seekers don’t think of going to a staffing agency for help finding a permanent job – many of the companies we work with are looking for workers they can hire in permanently.”

Additionally, WSI is currently conducting two lucrative referral programs where job seekers can earn money referring others to work for WSI. Referees have the chance to win $200 per referral, plus a chance to win free rent (up to $1,000).

Due to COVID-19, all applicants will have their temperature taken with a temporal scanner prior to entering the building. Face masks are required inside – if you don’t have one, WSI will provide one for you. Interior areas will be marked with 6-foot distances and there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.

WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc., is anticipating a large turnout for the Job Fair on August 27th.  To help expedite the process, job seekers should bring two forms of identification and be prepared to pass a drug screening. Applicants can also call the WSI Paw Paw office at (269) 488-5138 or read the Paw Paw Grand Opening blog article for more details.

Highlights:

  • WSI Workforce Strategies, Inc.
  • 233 E Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079
  • August 27th, 2020
  • 10 am – 2 pm
  • Hundreds of open jobs available
  • Job seekers should bring 2 forms of identification 

4 Reasons to Attend the Paw Paw Grand Opening Job Fair

A grand opening kicked off with a job fair? What could be better! Join us at our brand new Paw Paw Office on August 27th, 10 am – 2 pm for our grand opening hiring event! 


Here are 4 reasons to attend the Paw Paw grand opening job fair:

1. Meet the team

Come meet Chelsea and Lindsey! They will be available throughout the event to answer questions, give advice, and chat about our available opportunities. 

2. Tees and Treats

Giveaways will be aplenty! We’ll have complimentary snacks and treats all day long. (A full belly makes for better job hunting) Plus, our office roommate, Cheeky Print Shop, will be giving out free t-shirts while supplies last. 

3. Safety Precautions

Just because we’ll be having fun doesn’t mean we’ll forget to be safe. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for all who attend. 

4. Jobs!
Last, but certainly not least – jobs! Get first pick of your preferred job while it’s still available. Choose from more than 200 hundreds of immediate, full-time openings in industries ranging from auto manufacturing, light industrial, uniform services, marketing material/board game packaging, and more:

  • Machine Operators
  • General Laborers
  • Material Handlers
  • Warehouse Associates
  • Order Processors
  • Assembly & Production
  • And more!

Can’t make it? No problem – learn more about us and apply online.

Thursday, August 27th

WSI Paw Paw

233 E. Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079

10 am – 2 pm | (269) 488-5138

WSI Announces First Winner of Free Rent Referral Program

This Summer, Let WSI Staffing Pay Your Rent


[Grand Rapids, MI] – Earlier this summer, WSI – Workforce Strategies, Inc. (recently named a five-time winner of the Best & Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation) launched their Free Rent Referral Program. Participants who refer friends and family to WSI are entered into a drawing for a chance to have their monthly rent expenses covered by the company. 

“WSI has hundreds of job openings with great companies throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio,” says Steve Beebe, WSI Vice President. “With all the personal and financial hardship that COVID-19 has caused families, WSI wanted to offer up some additional support and incentives to our associates. We are excited about the opportunity to help people find work with great companies and have the opportunity for free rent as well!”

Drawings for winners occur on the first of every month, from August through October. The first winner of free rent is Yesenia Varela, an employee at Roskam Baking Company in Grand Rapids, MI. Yesenia’s career with WSI began on July 27, 2020, as a General Labor Associate on 3rd shift. Not even two months into her role, she moved up to a Machine Operator position. Following outstanding performance as a Machine Operator, Roskam has offered Yesenia a permanent position with the company. 

“Yesenia was so excited and very thankful to be named our first winner of the Free Rent Referral program,” says Ana Post, WSI Grand Rapids Branch Manager. “The check was presented to her between a shift change so a lot of people were curious about the big check. Many stuck around to see who had won.” 

On a personal level, Ana was just as excited as Yesenia. “It was so rewarding to be able to give back to an outstanding associate,” she said.

The Free Rent Referral program is open to all; entrants do not need to be a current WSI associate. The next winner will be drawn on/around September 1st, 2020. Complete details and a referral form can be found at https://www.wsitalent.com/rent.

WSI Announces First Winner of Free Rent Referral Program

Earlier this summer, we launched our first-ever, Free Rent Referral Program. To participate, individuals referred friends and family to WSI in order to be entered into a drawing for a chance to have their monthly rent expenses covered. Our first drawing was completed and we have a winner…. Congratulations Yesenia Varela!

Yesenia is an employee at Roskam Baking Company in Grand Rapids, MI. Yesenia’s career with WSI began on July 27, 2020, as a General Labor Associate on 3rd shift. Not even two months into her role, she moved up to a Machine Operator position. Following outstanding performance as a Machine Operator, Roskam has offered Yesenia a permanent position with the company. 

“Yesenia was so excited and very thankful to be named our first winner of the Free Rent Referral program,” says Ana Post, WSI Grand Rapids Branch Manager. “The check was presented to her between a shift change so a lot of people were curious about the big check. Many stuck around to see who had won.” 

On a personal level, Ana was just as excited as Yesenia. “It was so rewarding to be able to give back to an outstanding associate,” she said. 

Once again, congratulations Yesenia on your current promotion and winning the 1st free rent giveaway! We are so excited for all the great things ahead for you and the Roskam Family!

The Free Rent Referral program is open to all; entrants do not need to be a current WSI associate. The next winner will be drawn on/around September 1st. 

Complete details and a referral form can be found at https://www.wsitalent.com/rent.