Express Employment Professionals: Building businesses, building relationships
Job boards and algorithms won’t get you the people you need. By focusing on helping people thrive, Express Employment Professionals is helping businesses grow
Photo: Express Employment Professionals London co-owners James Norris and Michael Elliott
NO DOUBT YOU’VE heard by now: the labour market is extremely challenging, and many employers continue to experience difficulties when it comes to attracting ― and retaining ― top-quality employees.
In the press and in the public eye, this has often been described as a “labour shortage”. But to Express Employment Professionals London co-owners James Norris and Mike Elliott, that’s a simplistic view of things ― and it’s a simplification that might be making life harder for companies trying to navigate a tight labour market.
What Elliott sees when he looks at today’s employment environment is not simply a case of shortage, but a labour market struggling to find a new equilibrium. What for many employers looks like a shortage, to jobseekers is more like a “feeding frenzy,” Elliott says, where candidates are spoiled for choice.
“Too often, employers are not taking a moment to stop, look at the problem and then clearly outline a strategy” ―James Norris
“There’s so much of this going on,” he says, “it’s making it hard for companies to hire people.”
It often starts as early as the job posting. A company posts a job, often on a popular job board, and receives hundreds of applications: some good, others not; some carefully crafted and personalized, others not. Job seekers, meanwhile, have at their disposal the tools to apply to many jobs, very quickly.
The end result? Often, it’s a poor matchup between employee and employer, which might then lead a new hire to jump ship when a new offer (maybe one that pays a little better or has a slightly better schedule) comes along. Lather, rinse, repeat.
But by taking more time and care with the recruitment process, Express believes this is a problem for which employers have solutions available.
“The solution here is that companies need to reach out to the workforce experts,” says Norris. “Too often, employers are not taking a moment to stop, look at the problem and then clearly outline a strategy.”
The proven approach of Express Employment Professionals ― to match validated candidates with validated businesses ― takes a bit more time an automated job post, but it has a proven track record of creating better long-term matches and, more importantly, loyal employees.
“It’s something a job board can’t deliver,” continues Norris. “We provide a full range of employment solutions, and every day we provide workforce solutions to businesses and help people find fulfilling, meaningful jobs.”
Beginning with an ISO-certified and audited recruitment process, Express pinpoints the right candidates for a job opening, a win-win for employer and employee. For the company, it means a productive hire with the right qualifications in a job where they can bring value; for the employee, it means a job that’s properly compensated (Express’ average wage tracks about 20 per cent higher than average living wage figures, Elliott says) and where loyalty is being built from day one.
“We help job seekers get their feet in the door with some of the best employers in the London market,” Elliott says.
“Signing bonuses don’t make a long-term employee, but a new employee will notice right away if a company is committed to a creating a positive work culture” ―Mike Elliott
A particular area of focus for Express Employment Professionals is workplace culture. Express doesn’t work with minimum-wage workplaces, opting to work with those companies who are “striving to be an employer of choice,” says Elliott. For these companies, pay is only one part of the equation, and they realize how much a strong cultural and skills alignment means when it comes to employee retention.
“Signing bonuses don’t make a long-term employee,” Elliott point out, “but a new employee will notice right away if a company is committed to a creating a positive work culture. People want to be part of something meaningful and contribute to a common purpose.”
Great employees aren’t simply found, and if you’re hiring, you shouldn’t expect the right employee to just fall into your lap, fully formed. Instead, they are identified, developed and invested in, with the goal of creating a lasting, valuable relationship.
“Business decisions come down to time and money, and Express Employment can save you both by employing a proven approach to hiring that creates better, longer term and more productive employees,” sums up Norris. “Our workforce solutions and level of service simply can’t be matched by the job boards.”
You can reach Express Employment Professionals London at 519-672-7620, [email protected] or www.expresspros.com/london.
This story was created by Content Studio, TreeTown Media’s commercial content division, on behalf of Express Employment Professionals London.