Think of your staffing coordinator as an ally in your job search. It’s important to be honest with them so they can find something that truly matches your skills, interests, and personality. Just like you get paid for your job, we get paid to do our job – which is finding the best candidates for the job at each client and the more we know, the better your chances of getting that offer! Here are some things you need to share with your staffing coordinator so they can best advocate for you.
1. The Good Stuff…
What are you good at and love to do? Maybe you’re a good ref – solving any disputes between friends and coworkers. Maybe you’re a natural when it comes to building things or troubleshooting. What areas do you want to learn more about? Have you won any workplace awards or been consistently praised by your peers for a particular skill? The more your staffing coordinator knows about what brings you joy in the workplace, the more she can help find the best employment fit that includes nature of work, workplace culture, and advancement opportunities.
2. …And The Not-So-Good Stuff
Look, we get it – no one wants to talk about that one time they got fired, or when they were put on corrective action for a dispute with a co-worker or being late for a week straight. It’s uncomfortable and often embarrassing, but you’re not alone. Whatever the issue, it’s best to just be truthful with your staffing coordinator so they can help you best communicate them to your potential employer. Most importantly, we’ll be interested in hearing what you learned from them. Perhaps that dispute with your co-worker made you realize that communication is important and you’ve learned to ask better questions or improved your follow up skills.
3. Criminal background
WSI runs background checks on all potential employees, so be upfront about your criminal record. We can work with certain felonies, depending on the charge and depending on the client. But if you knowingly fail to mention it and then a hiring manager finds out when they call for a background check, it doesn’t make you look very trustworthy. Sometimes not disclosing something is grounds for being ineligible to work with WSI. If you’re honest, your staffing coordinator will not only be appreciative, they’ll do what they can to work with it as best they can.
4. Your availability
Of course, you’re anxious to sound eager and flexible so you get the job, but be honest about scheduling preferences. Family obligations or another job might limit you to certain shifts, and that’s fine – but your employer needs to know because if they’re counting on you to work a shift that you can’t, it’s a problem that might not end well. Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear just to get the job – tell us what works for you and we’ll happily accommodate whenever possible!
5. Changes in address or contact info
This is specifically for people who are currently working through WSI or found employment through WSI in the past. If you’ve moved or changed phone numbers, it’s important to update our records on My WSI for tax, paycheck, and insurance purposes.
6. What you were earning
You’ll be asked about your previous salaries when you meet your staffing coordinator and in potential employer interviews. We don’t use that information against you; all wages are pre-determined by the employer (not WSI). Rather, it helps us match you with a role whose pay closely matches (or hopefully exceeds) what you’re used to making. Anytime we can, we’ll go to bat for you to help you get a salary you deserve!
