Why staffing offices might not call you

While I can't claim to provide an 'all inclusive' list, I can help shed light on some possible reasons why you might not have been called.

When Manpower posts an ad for a position, our client has some very specific requirements. Those that respond as well as those that have already applied within Manpower are all possible candidates for any position. We then evaluate the skill levels required versus those that are available for work and take into account their work history with us (if any), testing results and the interview with us to determine which candidates we might refer to a particular job.

Another possibility is the response of our client to a resume. We typically ask for resumes in MS Word because more and more clients wish to review resumes this way. They are able to see for themselves a candidates skill levels in MS Word by evaluating the tabs, spell check, margins, etc. that can be reviewed in this format. Sometimes, if there is are discrepancies in what they perceive as correct formatting, that may cause the client to "pass" on your resume. Other times, we don't receive specific feedback even when a client decides to go with another candidate.

In any case, I want to reiterate, this list is not all inclusive. Your best feedback will come by contacting your local Manpower office to seek an answer to your own personal situation.

I've also read some postings indicating their problems with why testing is done or why it's important. When a client of ours asks for specific skills or degree of expertise, our testing can help evaluate your skills to compare. If your testing results do not match the needs/expectations of our client, then we may not be able to refer your resume to our client.

In any case, if you haven't been contacted or referred to a job since applying, please contact your local office and ask. Someone should be able to help answer your questions and perhaps give you some of that feedback.

Liar, Liar, Your Pants Are On Fire!

You people know nothing.

All you do is raise ones hopes, and then spread the fact that an applicant is too old and wants too much money.

Don't fall for these agencies. NETWORK people. It's all about networking.

Don't give these agencies the steam of your pee! MAKE THEIR BUTTS go to the s h * * ty clients that they want to send us to! Let them rot in the gates of H*l l that is Corporate America! lol

*bows graciously*

Hear that brother

I didn't get an interview for two months because of Manpower!

I agree. They get you in the door and then do nothing with you. If there is such a demand for office professionals why is it my job to contact you about a job? You know my skill set because you have tested me so if a job is open isn't your job to contact your employees who have the skill set for the job you are recruiting for? Why is it my job to call you after I have registered with your company?

Christopher Moore in Merchantville, New Jersey said: They are able to see for themselves a candidates skill levels in MS Word by evaluating the tabs, spell check, margins, etc. that can be reviewed in this format.

That is the most ridiculous thing I believe I have ever read. Anyone who knows MS Word knows it has professionally done templates for formatting and if a potential employer is going to think a person has expertise based on the formatting, then they don't know much about MS Word either.

It is about as silly as saying an applicant is a good choice for an auto mechanic because his/her car has the steering wheel on the correct side for this country.

If you want a potential applicant to display expertise in MS Word, then ask for such a demonstration. For all you know, the applicant's resume may have been done by an outside source whose MS Word talents were better or worse than the applicant.

In my opinion you are not shedding light, you are shoveling shi... Well you know what I mean. :)

I don't disagree with that answer. You are absolutely correct that there are many ways in which a person can provide a Word resume that they themselves did not create. It's when we have clients that require resumes in Word format, we need to make sure we meet the demands of our customer.

If anyone would like assistance in determining their application status, why they have not been called for a particular position, I encourage you to ask the manager of your local Manpower office. If they are not able to answer you, then you have every reason to ask to take the issue to a higher authority.

It's your name, your job application, your livelyhood. Very similar to any other permanent position, feedback on your application status should not be something secret. If there is a reason why you are not be referred to jobs or selected, you deserve to have some feedback. If it's not offered to you, you shouldn't be afraid to ask.

Frustrated in Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri said: Hear that brother

I didn't get an interview for two months because of Manpower!

You not getting an interview for 2 months is your own fault... why would you rely on someone else to do all the work for you?

I agree with Chris and Jen. If you are relying on someone else to get you a job, you probably are not a valuable candidate to begin with. Perhaps contact your local office and ask them if there is something you can do or change to make yourself more marketable to potential employers. Also, the qualified candidates that touch base with their local Manpower office via telephone or in person frequently are more likely to be considered for positions that those that sign up, go home and wait on their phone to ring. Manpower has been around since 1948, and uses an ISO 9000 selection process in recruiting and retaining their internal and external employees. Sometimes it's not a bad thing to look at the man in the mirror before passing judgement and public ridicule on those whose hands are tied. Also keep in mind that a SMALL Manpower office has a minimum of 300 active candidates seeking work, imagine the number in a large market, like New York or Jacksonville. You really have to show you want to work and are qualified for the position; we really would like to help everyone but we are NOT a non-profit, public-service agency. We are here to make a difference in the ever-changing world of work, our valuable clients and associates.

I really don't have anything negative to say about Manpower, I registered with them a few years ago, but there was nothing that fit my skills - all they had was low clerical work at the time and my desired rate of pay could not be matched to what was open at the time.

You have to get yourself out there and market yourself - drop resumes off, call your friends, put you resume online, you will find something.

There is hope.

=)

Manpower is the same as the other staffing agencies. I signed up with Manpower, received high test scores, and was then told there were no positions. I also have reached out to two other Manpower locations about jobs I've seen posted. No one called me back although I am highly qualified. If the jobs are really there, why isn't Manpower contacting their qualified candidates for jobs? If there are no jobs, why does Manpower have you come in and spend half of your day testing?

JD,

You make a very good point! As a staffing firm we meet a great number of qualified candidates for various types of positions. I can't specifically say why the offices you've contacted haven't considered you. I would certainly ask them directly if I were you.

However, as a manager for Manpower, I have seen a few reason why a high testing person might not be considered for a position. First, if we've offered at least three positions to someone within the pay rate and geography that they've requested, we may stop calling that person. For my office, if we contact someone to offer a position within their requested pay range and geography, but they refuse, we make a note of that refusal. After three times, we may stop calling that person to offer them work. Part of our application paperwork indicates this.

Another reason could be the interview. My office has seen a number of people test well for skills in a particular field. However, their interview with us was not complimentary to the positions they are requesting. For example, someone may be seeking a position as an administrative assistant and tests well on MS Word, Excel, and typing. Yet, during the interview with us, they were not on par with a larger majority of other qualified candidates. That might place a person lower on our list of qualified candidates for that position.

Other times, it might be that with an open position, the office has a large number of qualified applicants who have already applied to the office. The office might place an ad in search of more qualified candidates both for that position as well as for future positions. Sometimes the existing pool of qualified candidates is sufficient for our customer and we may keep new applicants in reserve for new positions as we receive them.

Lastly, call your office and make sure the skills you have are all listed on our online application system. This is one key way we locate qualified associates for positions.

Thank you for sharing your process. I still have a concern when a job is posted on the Internet noting the type of business, specific skill requirements and the salary range. When I speak to a representative the job never seems to be available. If I am not the proper "fit" for the job, why can't someone just be honest and say so? It would be better than the impression I'm left with instead.

I actually even had a Manpower representative call and tell me of a position that they thought I would be a great fit for and it was even a direct hire, which was very exciting. I was told I'd get a call back the following Monday. I was never called back. I was persistent in leaving several messages. Still, not even a courtesy return call. I simply thought that a company like Manpower would treat potential candidates with a little more professionalism. I believe full disclosure is in order BEFORE you are called in to register and be tested. If the Manpower associate I dealt with had been forthcoming with the true probability of being able to place me, my time could have been better spent elsewhere. Not to mention the other offices that didn't even give a courtesy return phone call when I proactively inquired about specific postings. Indeed, Manpower has proved very disappointing.

JD in Bristow, VA, I totally agree with you. I too have applied at MP, been tested, interviewed, the whole process and I was a staff employee several years ago. You would think that a former staff employee with great credentials would at least have earned the courtesy of a phone call. You are definitely not alone, JD. I had all the contacts within, I was eligible for rehire, my performance reviews were great; but I agree with you; if there is nothing or they don't want you, they could at least call and tell you that...I would stay away from MP...I did and life is much better for having done so.

So, Chris, tell me how Manpower can advertise a 1-2 month assignment for a firm and still be pushing that job 3 months later. This is after both registering on the national Manpower site and talking personally with the local recruiter for that position. I even had a different recruiter call me asking for referrals for the position in question. I haven't been asked in for an interview, testing, or even a discussion, even though I know my resume and background more than matches the job. And top of that Manpower's own ads are so full of misspelled words and typing mistakes that I'm wondering what kind of drugs they were on when they posted the jobs...

Frustrated in Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri said: Hear that brother

I didn't get an interview for two months because of Manpower!

How is that possible? Why is that Manpower's fault and not yours?

Senior Citizen in Atlanta, Georgia said: That is the most ridiculous thing I believe I have ever read. Anyone who knows MS Word knows it has professionally done templates for formatting and if a potential employer is going to think a person has expertise based on the formatting, then they don't know much about MS Word either.

It is about as silly as saying an applicant is a good choice for an auto mechanic because his/her car has the steering wheel on the correct side for this country.

If you want a potential applicant to display expertise in MS Word, then ask for such a demonstration. For all you know, the applicant's resume may have been done by an outside source whose MS Word talents were better or worse than the applicant.

In my opinion you are not shedding light, you are shoveling shi... Well you know what I mean. :)

And that is why assessments are required!!!!!!!!!

EPL,

I totally agree with you. That's why we do assessments as a standard. However, we do have clients that require resumes in MS Word for that reason.

We understand that there are templates not only in Word, but also many others on the web. We also know that a few dollars can also give you a neatly done resume. However, if a customer asks for resumes in a particular format for a candidate to be considered, we need to comply with their requests.

If it's been a while since you've spoken to Manpower, I think it's well worth a call or visit. Sit down and speak to a representative if you're still seeking work. If we have opportunities that fit your prior experience and skills, we'll talk to you about the positions.

From there, it's up to our customer - in most cases. Our clients want to at least review a resume for consideration at a minimum. Most will want to phone screen and/or interview after reviewing that resume. Even if you are seeking industrial work where a resume wasn't needed years ago, it might be wise to get one created. More and more of our clients are seeking resumes for all positions.

On a larger scale, I've listened to many of you across the country. I, myself, was out of work and seeking employment. Not to leave any rock unturned, I contacted many staffing companies as well. My experiences varied.

However, each of your notes have been the voices of reason to help change the face of Manpower. We've taken a look at what each candidate experiences and made significant improvements.

We want your time with us to be valuable and well spent. If the type of work you are looking for is not available, would you find it worth while to spend more than an hour completing an application and assessments without a possible job as a result? No? Neither do we.

Manpower is about pairing people seeking work who possess the skills and attributes matching the needs of our client.