By Christine Graf
AccuStaff has been providing Capital Region businesses with staffing solutions for more than 25 years. An affiliate of Randstad USA, a global leader in staffing and recruitment, AccuStaff has six employees and offices in Albany and Johnstown.
Owner Heather Rafferty joined the company in 1988, purchasing it in 1997. Since that time, she and her staff have provided services to companies throughout the region, working to identify, screen, and interview candidates for temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire positions.
“We are a staffing agency that specializes in temp-to-hire positions in light industrial, production, and manufacturing. We also do professional roles, direct hire roles, admin support, call centers, and higher education,” said Mesha Brewer, director of business development. “By letting us do what we do best, companies no longer have to spend all of the man hours that it takes to recruit one candidate.”
AccuStaff works with businesses that experience fluctuating workloads or seasonal demands, helping them to find qualified temporary staff members. When working with companies looking for temp-to-hire workers, AccuStaff provides them with the opportunity to “try out” an individual before bringing that person on as a permanent employee.
According to Brewer, the gig economy has made it difficult to fill the many entry-level positions that are currently available in the manufacturing and warehousing sectors.
“For these jobs that pay $17 to $18 an hour, it’s very difficult to compete with Uber drivers and jobs like that. We’re also competing against fast food restaurants that are now paying higher wage.”
Because the marketplace is so competitive, AccuStaff works closely with clients, advising them on ways in which to make open positions more attractive to job seekers.
“We aren’t just filling positions,” said Brewer. “We become very close with some of our clients, and we help them work through problems to ultimately achieve success together. We take a look at things like company culture and ways they can improve on that. We talk to them about adding different perks and offering growth opportunities within the company for people who are starting at a warehousing or manufacturing level. Those are things we can advertise when we are trying to fill these roles.”
Finding candidates for entry-level positions at companies that are not located on the bus line has been especially challenging.
“We see a lot of available candidates who are looking for jobs, but they need those jobs to be on the bus line,” said Brewer. “If I was to pinpoint where we have the most available candidates, it’s with these candidates that rely on the bus line.”
It is also more difficult for AccuStaff to fill entry-level positions during tax season, a time when many people are receiving tax refunds.
Brewer reports that professional roles have also been difficult.
“If you are an upper-level professional and you are talented and good at what you do, you are most likely working already. It takes a lot more recruitment and man hours to hunt ‘soft lookers’—those skilled professional candidates that are working but not necessarily happy where they are. It makes the hunt a lot more challenging.”
To meet these challenges, AccuStaff relies on “grassroots recruiting.” In addition to utilizing LinkedIn, they reach out to past applicants. These potential candidates are already in the company’s database, one that can be searched by skill and profession.
“You become almost like a sales recruiter,” said Brewer. “You are selling opportunities by approaching professionals who may already have a job.”
According to Brewer, AccuStaff has seen a marked decrease in demand from companies looking to fill remote positions.
“Companies are still being open-minded and flexible because they still need the talent, but we’re seeing more hybrid positions.”
By working with AccuStaff, Capital Region employers have access to a staff of qualified professionals, ones who live and work throughout the region.
“We know the community. We are involved in the community,” said Brewer. “We also have world class resources because we are an affiliate of Randstad USA, a global leader in staffing. We’re here to help business owners, and we’re ready to step up.”
For more information, visit accustaffny.com.