PULSE BEAT
The Paramount Chamber of Commerce once again recognized outstanding local businesses and individuals and swore in a new slate of officers at its annual Installation and Awards Luncheon on June 16 at Progress Park Plaza. Chamber’s 75th Anniversary
This year’s event was particularly special since those who attended were also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce in 1947.
New Chamber President
Chris Rich of WaveFront Technology became our new Chamber President (left). As a board member and senior vice president, Chris has often shown how much he enjoys reaching out to the community and networking with Chamber members and residents.
Outgoing President honored
Major award recipients
During the worst days of the public health crisis and throughout the past year as conditions gradually improved, the Paramount Chamber of Commerce continued to serve as an invaluable bridge between businesses and the community. This could not have been done without our members, volunteers and sponsors tirelessly working together. Accordingly, as in past years, the Chamber offered special recognition at our luncheon to companies, organizations and individuals that sponsored events, provided much-needed services and made other distinct contributions to the well-being and growth of both our organization and our community during a time of unprecedented adversity. Our major award winners were:
Our Event Sponsors
We’re very grateful to Weber Metals, our main event sponsor, to supporting sponsor SoCal Gas that provided beautiful centerpieces, and to the following companies that supported our Awards & Installation Luncheon this year (see photos on page 4):
Platinum Sponsors: Carlton Forge Works, City of Paramount, Weber Metals, Inc., and World Energy Paramount.
Gold Sponsors: Advocates for Family Unity and Total-Western, Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Athens Services/CalMet Services, Inc., Domino’s (MAR Pizza Group), Northgate Gonzalez Markets, SC Fuels and Transcom Telecommunications.
Outgoing President Alicia Valadez of Northgate Gonzalez Markets (right) was recognized by Paramount Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings and the Paramount City Council, as well as other officials and her fellow Chamber members, for her outstanding leadership during one of the most challenging periods in Chamber history. Alicia and the other officers on our board actually served for two years instead of the usual one year because of severe disruptions to our business community caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Others who presented certificates of recognition to Alicia included Cynthia Morales, representing U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (40th Congressional District); Adrian Landa, representing California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon; Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang; and Phoebe Liu, representing Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. (Also see page 4.)
PULSE BEAT
Bronze Sponsors: ACE Clearwater, Inc., Barnhart Crane, Brand Scaffold Services, Casa Gamino Restaurant, Chang Orthodontics, Dixon Golf, Downey Federal Credit Union, Farmers Insurance - Kotob Agency, Marukan Vinegar USA, Inc., Max B. Martinez, DDS, FAGD, FACD, McDonalds (Tulaphorn Inc.), SELACO WDB, Signature Bank, SoCal Gas, Warfield Financial Services and Vicky Professional Services, Inc.
Award of Excellence: Sam Kotob (Farmers Insurance)
Mayor’s Award: Jayone Foods Mayor Cuellar Stallings and Ik Tae Kim, Senior Director of Jayone Foods.
President’s Award: Marukan Vinegar USA
From left: Jon Tanklage, President of Marukan Vinegar USA; Takashi Sasada, Owner of Marukan; Kejiro (Jason) Katsuki, CEO of Marukan; and Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang.
Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Jaime Agrego Jaime (World Energy Paramount) is shown with Cynthia Morales from the office of U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard.
Vicky Uisprapassorn
Mayor’s Desk
MAYOR VILMA CUELLAR STALLINGS
Mayor’s Award of Excellence goes to Paramount USD Support Services staff
At the June 8 City Council meeting, I was proud to present the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to the Support Services staff of the Paramount Unified School District as part of Education Month in the City. These individuals include behavior specialists, counselors, nurses, and social workers.
If support has ever been needed, it’s been during the pandemic. Our young people experienced dramatic changes in school participation and how classes were taught. It goes without saying that it was a physically and emotionally challenging time.
The support staff were there every step of the way to help our kids, making a difficult time more bearable. Accepting the award on behalf of her hard-working colleagues was Maureen Melgaard, the counselor at Jackson Middle School and the School District’s Support Services staff member of the year. (Please also see the photo on page 6.)
Water restrictions now in effect
Due to the severe drought conditions in California, the State Water Board is requiring all water suppliers, including the City’s utility, to put conservation measures in place. The goal is to reduce usage by 20%. The State now requires the following for all Paramount residents and businesses:
• Water limits for landscaped areas: April to October Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; then November to March—Mondays and Thursdays.
• No washing down hard or paved surfaces.
• No excessive water flow or run off.
• Washing vehicles only with an automatic shutoff nozzle.
• Customers must make repairs (water leaks, broken sprinklers, etc.) within 72 hours.
• Restaurants may only serve water upon request.
To learn more details about the City’s conservation plan, please visit paramountcity.com. And thank you for helping to save water in Paramount!
City hires team of formerly homeless artists to create beautiful new mosaic
The City recently unveiled a new artwork decorating the side of our Community Center in Paramount Park.
Entitled “Brilliance of Community,” the mosaic was created by a team of 11 artists with Piece by Piece, a non-profit organization that supports individuals in the Skid Row and South Los Angeles neighborhoods now living in permanent supportive housing.
By providing free workshops that offer the opportunity for certificate training, Piece by Piece empowers residents who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity to earn supplemental income and contribute to large-scale commissions and public art.
Paramount is the first municipality outside of the City of Los Angeles to engage the group for a project.
“Brilliance of Community” becomes the 65th piece in Paramount’s substantial public art collection that includes sculptures and murals all over town. That amounts to roughly 13 public art exhibits per square mile.
The Community Center, which is also the site of our Senior Center, is one of our most popular public buildings. Now everyone coming inside will pass this very special image. We thank Piece by Piece and all the talented artists who produced this beautiful work.
Play ball!
Form a team and join the City’s adult softball league this summer.
Games will be Thursday nights starting August 25, with registration closing July 29. Line-ups are ten players per side, ages 16 and older. Open to those who live and work in Paramount.
Registration is $375 per team, and includes bats, balls, and umpire fees. To sign up and start playing, visit paramountcity.com/1660.
Low-cost pet vaccinations and services
The last low-cost “VaccineA-Thon” for dogs and cats this year is Wednesday, July 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd.
It is a drive-thru event and no appointment is necessary. Dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers. Onsite pet licensing will not be available.
Rabies shots are $9 each (plus a $2 medical waste disposal fee), a substantial savings. Other vaccinations, general health exams, certain flea control products, nail trimming, and microchip registration will all be available at discounted prices.
You can learn more at vetcarepetclinic.com.
Free PHITness training continues
Get fit with Paramount High Intensity Training (PHIT)!
The free 16-week workout course continues at Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd., on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. through September.
It’s for Paramount residents 16 or older and no registration needed. There is a maximum capacity of 40 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Discounted phone and internet
Lifeline is a Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) program that provides low-income consumers with a discount on monthly telephone service purchased from participating providers. To learn more, visit fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-lowincome-consumers. The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program gives a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households, who can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. To learn more, please visit fcc.gov/acp
Daily landscape watering is no longer allowed.
Continued from page 1:
Awards & Installation 2022
Swearing in the Chamber Board of Directors
Thank you to all our generous sponsors (see the full list of companies on page 1)
Platinum Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Thank you to Alicia Valadez, our outgoing Chamber President
The Paramount Chamber of Commerce congratulates all our award winners and welcomes our new slate of officers. We also offer our sincere thanks to all our hardworking Chamber Ambassadors and to all our members who support our events and programs that bring so much benefit to the Paramount community.
Congratulations to newly-elected Paramount officials!
Paramount City Council Members Peggy Lemons & Annette Delgadillo
Paramount Unified School District Board Member Eddie Cruz
The Chamber looks forward to working with you to serve our community.
Outgoing Chamber President Alicia Valadez (Northgate Gonzalez Markets), holding certificate, was honored by her fellow chamber members and numerous government officials, including (from left): new Paramount Chamber President Chris Rich (WaveFront Technology), Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, Cynthia Morales (from the office of U.S. Represenative Lucille Roybal-Allard), Pheobe Liu from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, City of Paramount Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings and Adrian Landa from the office of California Assemble Speaker Anthony Rendon. (See additional information about Alicia’s two-year term of service on page 1.)
Above, from left: Alicia Valadez (Northgate Gonzalez Markets), Gloria Gamino (Casa Gamino Mexican Restaurant), Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications), Dr. Max Martinez DDS, Queen Uchekwe (Weber Metals), Chris Rich (WaveFront Technology), Leeor Alpern (World Energy), Leonard Crespo (Total-Western), Randy Gualajara (ACE Clearwater) , Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar USA) and Mike Willis (Carlton Forge Works). Not shown are Tony Manos (Domino’s), David Lattimer (SC Fuels) and Vicky Uisprapassorn (Vicky Professional Services, Inc.), who will also be serving on the 2023 Paramount Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Congratulations to all our 2022 graduates!
BUENA VISTA
STEM ACADEMY
(focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
The Class of 2022 was the first graduating class for this innovative high school.
“We are Paramount!”
Come celebrate the heritage of our unique and growing community as we
recover from the ravages
of the panademic and strive for a prosperous future.
City Council
Mayor’s Award of Excellence
Odyssey students lead Pledge of Allegiance
City Council celebrates Juneteenth
Get involved in protecting your neighborhood!
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Now that warmer weather and longer days are here, the City of Paramount’s Neighborhood Watch program is now in full swing. Neighborhood Watch is a partnership in crime prevention between the community and the City. Residents become familiar with their neighbors, look out for each other’s welfare and property, and report suspicious activities.
The meetings are hosted by a member of the City of Paramount’s Public Safety Department, the neighborhood’s beat deputy from the Sheriff’s Department, and a City Community Service Officer (CSO)
Recent meetings have seen residents bringing up issues such as homeless individuals and panhandlers in their neighborhoods, adding crosswalks to nearby streets, extra deputy patrol checks, parking, and traffic enforcement.
The Public Safety team explained the best ways to report the various incidents, such as contacting the Sheriff’s Department for criminal activity like trespassing, putting crosswalk requests through the City Public Works Department, and asking for patrol checks via the city website or by calling or coming to the Paramount Station.
Other examples of issues explored are burned-out street lights and thefts from vehicles, or requests for additional street sweeping signs and red curbs near driveways for better sightlines. Anything, really, that can enhance quality of life.
Neighborhoods with active Neighborhood Watch programs generally have less crime than those without them. To become a part of Paramount’s program, please call the Public Safety Department at (562) 220-2002.
Since neighbors know better than anybody what’s happening happens on their street, this is a good way to contribute to local public safety.
Vacation home checks
Paramount residents going out of town on vacation can contact the Sheriff’s Station for a vacation home check. Public Safety Officers will periodically look around your home or property while you’re gone.
This free service is available throughout the year, not just during holidays. It is best to provide the Station with at least two weeks’ notice before you leave. Call (562) 220-2002 for more information.
At its June 8 meeting, the Paramount City Council recognized the importance of Juneteenth in the community. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in Confederate territory. Shamefully, this information did not reach many people in the affected areas until June 19, 1865. Since then, that date has held a special meaning for the African-American community. Called Juneteenth, it has been celebrated for nearly 160 years. The Council encouraged everyone to learn about the many contributions African-Americans have made to the development of the country. Accepting the proclamation were members of the Paramount High School Black Student Union: Laylaa’ Hawkins, Michaela Hawkins, and Aniyah Green, and the club’s coadvisor Akisha Brooks.
While proclaiming June as Education Month in Paramount, the City Council had Tierra Pierce and Andrew Loza—the top seniors from Odyssey STEM Academy’s first graduating class lead the Pledge of Allegiance at its June 8 meeting. From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Loza, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Pierce, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
At the June 8 City Council meeting, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings presented her Award of Excellence to the Support Services staff of the Paramount Unified School District as part of Education Month in the City. The staff includes behavior specialists, counselors, nurses, and social workers, whose services have been vitally important during the pandemic. Accepting the award on behalf of her hard-working colleagues was Maureen Melgaard, the counselor at Jackson Middle School and the School District’s Support Services staff member of the year. From left: Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Melgaard, Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons. Please also see “From the Mayor’s Desk” on page 3 for additional information.
Washing your car can waste water, pollute the ocean and even result in fines and lawsuits
Did you know that there are very serious DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to washing your car?
Paramount is one of many cities in Los Angeles County and Orange County that have for years been under a court order to protect storm drains from pollutants that can enter and damage rivers and the ocean. This court order stemmed from a lawsuit filed by numerous environmentalist groups.
Soapy runoff from washing cars and trucks in driveways can contain chemicals that harm the environment. When these chemicals flow into gutters and then into storm drains that reach the ocean and other waterways, the City of Paramount can be liable for large fines from regional enforcement agencies as a result of that lawsuit.
Some storm drains have markings like this:
NO WASTE! Drains to ocean
The risk to our city is very real. Environmental groups monitor storm drain discharges in our area. If we aren’t vigilant about soapy runoff and pollutants get through, Paramount (as well as other cities) can be sued.
In addition, water use in Paramount is now restricted by the State of California because of ongoing severe drought conditions—and one of the restrictions involves washing both privately owned and commerical vehicles. If you wash your car or truck at home, you must use an automatic shufoff nozzle to avoid wasting water. (For more about these various water-use restrictions, please see “From the Mayor’s Desk” on page 3.)
For all these compelling reasons, Paramount residents and fleet owners are encouraged to take their vehicles to professional car wash businesses, which are required by law to use devices that capture runoff. Car wash businesses also usually recycle their water both for environmental and economic reasons.
Car washes in parking lots or mobile car wash services are not allowed in Paramount and many other cities.
For more information, please visit the Public Works Department page at paramountcity.com and look for “Stormwater” on the left side of the page. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.
2nd Annual Back-to-School Healthcare & School Gear Giveaway will be held Saturday, August 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd.
Hosted by the Paramount City Council and YMCA, the free event will feature giveaways of backpacks and school supplies, as well as food, free haircuts , health screenings, youth activities and more. It will be a great way to get ready for the new school year, so save the date and plan to participate!
Below, left (from left): Chamber Ambassador Chairperson Sam Kotob (Farmers Insurance), representing U.S. Representative Roybal-Allard; Lauren Yokomizo, representing Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn; Christopher Martinez; Aylene Moreira; Mario Moreira; Jair Moreira; (in back) Ambassador Matt Wagner (GM Properties), representing State Senator Lena Gonzalez; Chamber President Alicia Valadez (Northgate Gonzalez Markets); Paramount Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo; Paramount Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings; (kneeling in front) Claudia Cruz and Dana Real.
Below, right (from left): Owners Mario Moreira, Jair Moreira and Aylene Moreira; Chamber Past President Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications); and Chamber President Alicia Valadez (Northgate Gonzalez Markets).
Cutting the ribbon is Dora Palacios, mother of Manta Paints owner Mario Moreira.
Inaugural SkillsetGives Charity Golf Tournament scheduled for August 12
SkillsetGroup, which specializes in staffing and workforce solutions, will hold its inaugural SkillsetGives Charity Golf Tournament on August 12 at the Los Amigos Golf Club, 7295 Quill Drive in Downey.
Multiple sponsorship opportunities and foursome slots are available for the tournament.
SkillsetGives is a non-profit organization owned and operated by SkillsetGroup, the Paramount location of which is 15737 Downey Ave.
According to SkillsetGroup’s founder and CEO Clint Armstrong, the purpose of the new non-profit is to provide “a self-sustaining platform to help solve homelessness and related social problems that involve work training and employment.” The organization contributes to scholarships that help under-resourced young people build their careers and also provides military veterans social and emotional support they need to be successful in their civilian jobs.
“The single greatest factor in lifting people out of poverty is economic opportunity,” Armstrong said. “Whether providing scholarships and veteran support to prevent people falling into financial trouble, or whether we’re partnering in the future with services for the long-term homeless, we’ll be supporting organizations that can demonstrate their effectiveness. If we can get people the support they need to keep a job, we can find them careers that will allow them to thrive.”
Public Health urges parents to keep their children up-to-date on COVID vaccinations
In a recent news release, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health encouraged parents to keep their children up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations since children continue to be significantly impacted by the disease.
While most children experience mild illness, there is no way to know in advance how children will be affected by COVID-19. Many children in LA County experienced serious illness and required hospitalization after becoming infected with COVID-19. To date, there have been 1,359 children under the age of 5, 678 children ages 5 to 11, and 1,158 children ages 12 to 17 hospitalized with COVID-19.
Although very rare, COVID-19 cases among children can sometimes result a few weeks later in a very serious, post-infection illness known as Multi-Symptom Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. In total, over the course of the pandemic, Public Health has confirmed 312 cases of MIS-C.
A chief charitable beneficiary of SkillsetGives is the Paramount Education Partnership (PEP), which provides scholarships to under-resourced Paramount Unified School District students. 42MM, the golf-centered veterans’ support and social group, will also benefit from the tournament.
Money reserved from the tournament will seed SkillsetGives accounts to invest in future partnerships with existing work training, adult education and other programs and services that lift people out of severe poverty.
The entry fee for the shotgun-start, scrambleformat tournament is $640 per foursome, which includes dinner, limited drinks and a bag lunch. Following a cocktail hour, dinner will be catered by Gus’s Deli, BBQ and Grill of Paramount. A raffle will include $15,000 or more in prizes.
All supplies will be donated to the Foster Youth & Homeless Youth Program
For more information and to donate, purchase tickets or buy sponsorships, visit the SkillsetGives Charity Golf Tournament page at skillsetgroup.com
Please donate by August 13
Please stop by our Horchateria Rio Luna Paramount location at 15950 Paramount Blvd. to donate the following: -Staplers -Pens & Pencils
Free summer nutrition and play for kids continues until July 21
Paramount Unified School District’s HEY! (Healthy Eating for Youth) program will continue until July 21. The free nutrition and recreation program will be open Monday through Thursday and at four school sites: Collins, Keppel, Mokler and Hollydale. Breakfast will be served from 9 to 9:30 a.m., and recreation time will be from 9:30 a.m. until noon, with lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.
The program is funded by Paramount Unified School District with the City of Paramount providing staff to assist with the supervision.
Los Amigos golf course in Downey
Max
562-634-5000 • 800-634-5000 fenicocastings.com • stran@fenicoinc.com 7805 Madison St., Paramount, CA 90723-4220
14 employee recruitment strategies for success
By Adam Uzialko (This article originally appeared on Businessnewsdaily.com
What does a well-defined recruitment strategy look like? These 14 steps can improve your ability to attract top talent and hire the best candidates available for your open job positions.
1. Identify your vacant jobs. You might think you know the job you need to hire for, and if you are the owner of a very small business that might be true. However, midsized company owners or hiring managers should speak with staff and managers about the exact nature of the vacant position and what it entails. Learn as much as you can about a vacant position before starting to develop a job description.
2. Determine needed skills & characteristics. Once you’ve gathered the needed information about the vacant job, consider the skills and characteristics the ideal candidate would bring to the table.
“The perfect recruitment process should begin with the establishment of your business requirements,” said Andrew Fennell, director and careers expert at StandOut CV. “You should identify the types of knowledge and skills that will be required for optimum performance in any advertised role. Such information will be of value when it comes to the creation of focused job descriptions and person specifications.”
Characteristics, though, are an extremely important intangible. Characteristics include things like a candidate’s ability to think creatively, generate new ideas and their ability to fit into the company culture.
3. Create a job description. Once you’ve taken notes on what your ideal candidate looks like, you can craft a job description. It should include information about the company, the specific role you are hiring for, preferred experience, required skill sets and compensation information.
Incorporate your brand voice into the job description to communicate what type of company you are. This will encourage suitable candidates to apply and discourage those who might not be a good cultural fit.
4. Advertise the job. A job description isn’t much good if you don’t have a way to advertise it. Naturally, you can use job boards – pick niche or industry-specific job boards to maximize responses from relevant candidates – but consider sharing your job description elsewhere. Your social media channels can be useful tools. Explain to your audience that you’re hiring and ask them to spread the word. Not only could social media help you reach a wider, enthusiastic audience, it can also improve customer engagement by showing your audience that your company is growing. Additionally, attending job fairs, networking events and seminars can be good places to recruit new talent.
Another smart move is to establish an applicant tracking system that is capable of collecting and sorting large numbers of applications. This makes it easy for hiring managers to sort the most promising applicants and save them for later review.
“You should think carefully about the types of platforms that you are going to use for the advertisement of vacancies,” Fennell said. “A mixture of internal and external platforms might be used in order to attract the widest pool of high-caliber candidates. Time should then be spent reviewing the applications, using an [applicant tracking system] where possible, in order to sort the best from the rest.”
5. Look internally. Don’t overlook whether any of your existing employees might be interested in, and a good fit for, the vacant position. No one knows your company as well as your current staff, and promoting from within shows that there is room for advancement in your company – it’s an important way to boost morale.
6. Establish a pool of candidates. Once you’ve received applications and determined if there is any interest from current employees for the vacant position, it’s time to review applicants and narrow them down. Refer back to your job description, along with the skills, experience and characteristics you identified as elements of the ideal candidate. Not every candidate needs to meet all of the criteria, but they should exhibit some combination of them. Set aside between seven and 10 applications that seem promising. Consider holding up to five in reserve in case you are unable to contact your initial pool of candidates.
Before contacting the candidates, do your homework. Research their backgrounds and reach out to their provided references. Take extensive notes during this process, as you will refer back to them when you do speak to the candidate.
7. Hold introductory calls. Once you’ve narrowed down your applicants to a manageable group, reach out to hold introductory calls and a first round of interviews over the phone or via video conference. Use this time to meet and greet candidates and determine their background, experience, and interest in your open job.
on June 17, 2022)
Compare their responses to the notes you’ve taken when researching their background and speaking with references. Use this information to validate what they are saying and to ensure you aren’t being misled. Also pay close attention to mannerisms, personality and potential cultural fit—these intangibles are also important elements of recruitment.
8. Interview finalists. Between the introductory call and face-to-face interview, give the candidate and hiring managers some time to prepare.
“There will ideally be some time for the hiring managers and prospective recruits to prepare for their interviews,” Fennell said. “Key areas of discussion should be considered, with a mixture of open and closed questions being asked for a comprehensive understanding of candidate suitability. You should also make a point of checking references to ensure that the interviewees have given a true reflection of their capabilities.”
Again, this is an ideal time to show the candidate what your business has to offer them as an employer. Give them a tour, and explain the perks or benefits associated with working at your company. As much as the interview is a chance for you to evaluate the candidate, it is also their chance to evaluate your company.
9. Extend an offer to a candidate. Once you’ve conducted your interviews, it’s time to settle on a candidate. It is usually best to choose a backup (or two) in case your first choice turns your offer down. Sit with your hiring managers and any other employees who might have interviewed the candidates and ask them whom they liked best. Work together to create a list of the top three finalists. Note their strengths, weaknesses and any outstanding questions – these notes will be important during onboarding and training if your first choice accepts your offer.
Once your team has agreed on a top choice, extend your offer. If they accept, the recruitment process transitions to the onboarding process.
10. Begin the employee onboarding process. After the recruitment process has been completed and a candidate is successfully hired, they need to be properly onboarded and trained so they can quickly get started. Onboarding and training involve the explanation of benefits, duties, and processes, as well as setting up credentials for software, providing needed hardware, and meeting other employees.
11. Define your employer brand. Culture is a major component of employee satisfaction and workforce retention. You can reduce turnover by recruiting people who thrive in your company culture, but to do that, you have to first define that culture. It should be reflected in the brand. Are you a brand that is about helping people? Are you there to make money for clients or customers? Are you about quality? Tradition?
There are many options. Define your brand. Then, reflect that in your recruiting. It will help you find quality candidates from the start.
12. Use social media. Social media offers rich resources for reaching people. Across various platforms, there are billions of active users. You can use organic outreach to bring in prospects, or you can pay for promotion services that help you be seen. Both are viable. It is highly likely that your next new hire has a few social media accounts. Why not take advantage of that and use these resources to find them?
13. Participate in job fairs. Despite the digitization of job searches, good oldfashioned job fairs still have their place. College students and prospective hires love having a place where they can go and browse employers in a convenient location. It’s an easy way to jump-start your recruiting efforts.
Job fairs offer something extra special to the equation: in-person communication. With social media, online resources, email, and phones, face-to-face communication sometimes feels rare. Attending a job fair is an opportunity to establish strong communication from the start, and that can help seasoned recruiters identify the best candidates.
14. Use job boards. Job boards are abundant. Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn and so many others are well-known and reputable. However, they only account for 30% of all job listings. That means that your posting is not facing the stiff, extreme competition you might be expecting.
With so many job openings that are not posted on job boards, they become an easy way for you to reach large numbers of prospects quickly. You only have to compete with a third of the openings that actually exist. Taking advantage of this can help you net topquality new hires who completely overlook the hidden openings that never make it to these great resources.
TIP: Your recruiting strategy should be a targeted process that incorporates feedback from all key stakeholders in your organization. Conduct a detailed interview process, and solicit feedback from managers, employees, and candidates’ references.
The importance of a recruitment strategy
While many businesses are tempted to use a jobs board to pull in applications, this untargeted approach could result in a flurry of unqualified applicants.
A recruitment strategy helps you avoid making a bad hire that leads to increased turnover and steep costs associated with onboarding and training a failed employee, Kelly added.
“Sometimes, bad employees are hired, and it isn’t their fault,” Kelly said. “Instead, I think that hiring without guidelines or goals is to blame, and approaching hiring as just ‘filling a gap’ will make you hire too quickly and to anyone who applies who seems remotely competent.”
Adam Uzialko is a writer and editor at business.com and Business News Daily. He has covered topics including digital marketing, SEO, business communications and public policy. He has also written about emerging technologies and their intersection with business, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain.
An effective recruitment strategy is key. . .
member-to-member discounts Paramount Chamber of Commerce
As a Paramount Chamber of Commerce member, these discounts are extended to you by your fellow members. Visit the following businesses to receive the discounts listed below. But remember, these offers are available only to Paramount Chamber members!
Attorney & Legal Services
Lerma Law Office (562-272-4353): 15% discount on initial retainer fee or flat-rate service.
Automotive
Herald’s Garage (562-633-2136): 15% discount on labor and a free engine light reset.
Communications
Transcom Telecommunications (562-630-1200, ext. 221): 10% off equipment (business phone services).
Contractors
Jones Scaffold Co. (800-266-3864): 10% off net rental of scaffold equipment.
Financial Services
SG Tax Services (562-630-4004): $25 off tax preparation for Chamber members and their employees.
Vicky Professional Services (562-634-1178): 20% off bookkeeping and accounting service.
Flowers
Diana’s Flowers (562-529-5045): Free local delivery and free balloons.
Funeral Services
Palacios Funeral Home (562-972-5429): 5% off services.
Hotels & Motels
Embassy Suites Hotel (562-861-1900): 15% off best available room rate (subject to availability). Ask for “Chamber rate.”
Insurance
2000 Insurance Service (562-602-0001): 25% off new business.
Medical
Clínica Médica Hispana (562-630-1991): 25% discount.
Plumbing & Heating
Downey Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning (562-861-1234): 10% off HydroJet service and/or 10% off material.
Production (Events)
YSL Production (323-490-6315): 20% any event services: Sound, lighting, stage, LED video, wall & truss equipment.
Printers
Source Graphics, Inc. (562-408-2734): 10% discount on all printing.
Real Estate
GM Properties (562-696-0200): 5% of gross commissions on closed deals will be sent to the charity of our choice in your name. Ask for Matt.
Penta Pacific Properties (562-699-1922): Free market value opinions on commercial and industrial properties.
Restaurants
Café Corleone (562-408-6100): 10% discount on all food purchases.
Casa Adelita (562-408-2360): 10% off (may not be combined with other specials).
Casa Gamino (562-634-6225): 10% discount on food purchases.
Delfin Seafood & Market (562-630-1928): 10% off any order.
El Compa Restaurant (562-630-1068): 10% discount on all food purchases.
El Sinaloense Restaurant (562-363-3011): 10% off on food purchases.
El Peri Sushi Restaurant (562-408-0459): 10% off on food purchases over $10.
Gus’s Deli, BBQ & Grill (562-630-2802): 10% off all food purchases.
Mariscos Alas (562-633-1348): 10% Chamber member discount. 15% discount for law enforcement & City employees.
Mariscos El Perihuete (562-408-1661): 10% off on food purchases over $10.
Pika Tortas Ahogadas (562-529-5787): 10% discount on all regular-priced food items (excludes combo deals).
Smoke & Fire Social Eatery (562-363-3109): 10% discount on food items.
Roofing
One Coat Roof Seal LLC (833-232-8121): 20% off each can.
Wellness & Health
Enagic (562-833-3823): Free ionized alkaline water.
Wholesalers & Distributors
Rayvern Lighting Supply, Inc. (562-634-7020): 5% off fixtures and ballast orders (commercial distributor of lighting and fixtures).
To add your business to this section, please call the Paramount
Membership RENEWALS
Landmark Insurance Agency....................50 years
5406 Lincoln Ave., Cypress CA 90630
El Compa Restaurant...............................29 years
7010 Rosecrans Ave., Paramount CA 90723
Emmanuel Reformed Church.....................26 years
8303 Alondra Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Tam’s Burgers #22....................................25 years
8454 E. Alondra Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Southern California Immediate Care Center..20 years
7300 Alondra Blvd Ste. 101, Paramount CA 90723
Penta Pacific Properties............................20 years
9500 Norwalk Blvd., Santa Fe Springs CA 90670
LBCC Small Business Delevopment Center...17 years
4901 E. Carson St., Long Beach CA 90808
Reddy Nagarekha, DDS...........................16 years
8311 Alondra Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Lerma Law Offices ..................................16 years
12749 Norwalk Blvd, Suite 101, Norwalk CA 90650
In Motion Design......................................9 years
7314 Madison Ave., Paramount CA 90723
Kenny’s Auto Services...............................9 years
17406 Woodruff Ave., Bellflower CA 90706
Horchateria Rio Luna................................7 years
15950 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 907233
Sam’s Roofing............................................5 years
7640 Rosecrans Ave., Paramount CA 90723
El Sinaloense Restaurant...........................3 years
15503 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
Communications Workers of America......2 years
7844 Rosecrans Ave., Paramount CA 90723
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EPOXY COATING LABORER —Long-term, full-time (40+ hours per week). Will train. Install various flooring systems for commercial and industrial projects. Perform tasks involving physical labor; must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for long periods. Operate equipment (as instructed). Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723. Contact: Brenda or Jessica at 562-529-5700. Apply Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
WAREHOUSE MAINTENANCE WORKER —Longterm, part-time (20 to 25 hours per week). Will train. Staging equipment and materials for daily projects. Receive and process warehouse stock products. Maintain inventory. Operate and maintain warehouse vehicles and equipment. Run errands (as needed). Techcoat Contractors, 15720 Garfield Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723. Contact: Brenda or Jessica at 562-529-5700. Apply Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN —Full-time. Experience helpful, but willing to consider an excellent new graduate who can learn quickly. Call Martha at Fobi Pharmacy: 562-630-5700.
BARTENDER —Part-time, including evenings and weekends. Call Leroy: 562-634-9001.
SKILLED LABOR OPPORTUNITIES —SkillsetGroup currently has these positions available for first, second and third shifts: Machine operator, sanitation, loading & unloading, forklift drivers, production line, and order pulling. Come in and apply today! SkillsetGroup actualmente tiene aperturas para puestos disponibles para Primer, Segundo y Tercer turno. ¡Ven y aplica hoy! Call us at 866-375-3094 or use Instagram (@ skillsetgroup) or Facebook for weekly updates. 7300 Alondra Blvd., Suite 202, Paramount, California 90723.
STATE FARM AGENT —State Farm Agents help their customers protect what’s important to them, all the while making time to give back to their neighborhoods. Improve your career! Call David Maciel: 562-305-2111.
FULL-TIME SEAMSTRESS —5-Star Interior Services, Inc., needs a full-time seamstress with drapery-making experience. Contact Leroy at 818-845-4518.
CREW WORKER —Specialty construction. Will train. Installation of epoxycoatings, including preparation of concrete floors and other structures using various equipment. Long-term, 30+ hours, including some weekends. Report in person to TECHCOAT, 15720 Garfield Ave., Paramount, California 90723; M-Th 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
CLEANING SERVICE JOB (Persona para limpiesa)— A&R Cleaning Multiservices. Please contact Yolanda Monday-Friday at 562-500-2284.
CHAMBERS NIGHT @ ANGEL STADIUM MONDAY, AUGUST 29TH
PRE-GAME MIXER AT 5:00 PM WITH GAME AT 6:38 PM
Tickets: $50, which includes:
Tickets: $50.00 Includes
• Pre-game mixer in Rose Garden at 5:00 pm (enter at Gate 1).
• Game ticket (seating in field section 106).
Pre -game Mixer in the Rose Garden at 5:00 pm. (Enter at Gate 1) and game Ticket (Seating in Field section 106). Networking and Raffles from Angels.
• Networking and raffles from the Angels.
Look for family and friends from the Chambers of Commerce shown below. Come for the networking and stay for the game!
Look for Chamber family and friends from these Chambers. Come for the Networking, an stay for the game!
Bell Chamber, Bell Gardens Chamber, Cerritos Regional Chamber, Commerce Industrial Council, Downey Chamber, La Habra Chamber, Lakewood Chamber, Montebello Chamber, Norwalk Chamber, Paramount Chamber, Pico Rivera Chamber, Rosemead Chamber, Santa Fe Springs Chamber, South Gate Chamber, Whittier Chamber.
Bell Chamber, Bell Gardens Chamber, Cerritos Regional Chamber, Commerce Industrial Council, Downey Chamber, La Habra Chamber, Lakewood Chamber, Montebello Chamber, Norwalk Chamber, Paramount Chamber, Pico Rivera Chamber, Rosemead Chamber, Santa Fe Springs Chamber, South Gate Chamber and Whittier Chamber.
To make your reservation and pay for tickets contact: Paramount Chamber of Commerce Call Barbara Crowson (562) 634-3980
Stay in touch with the City!
Nixle, the City of Paramount’s notification system, sends important alerts via cellphone, landline, email, text and social media. To sign up, text 90723 to 888-777 or visit nixle.com. Your information will never be shared with any businesses or outside agencies, and you can cancel or delete your information at any time.
WIC is a nutrition program for women, infants and children. WIC es un programa de nutricion para mujeres, bebes y niños.
You may qualify if you:
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or just had a baby
• Have a child under age 5
• Have a low to medium income*
• Receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) or CalFresh (Food Stamps) benefits
• Live in California Usted puede calificar si:
• Está embarazada, está dando pecho o acaba de tener un bebe
• Tiene un niño menor de 5 años
• Tiene un ingreso bajo a mediano
• Recibe beneficios de Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) o CalFresh (Estampillas de Comida)
• Vive en California
WIC provides:
• Nutrition education and health information
• Breastfeeding support
• Food benefits
• Referrals to medical providers and community services
WIC proporciona:
• Educación sobre nutrición e información de salud
• Apoyo con la lactancia
• Beneficios de comida
• Referencias a proveedores de servicios medicos y servicios
*Income levels change annually. Niveles de ingreso cambian anualmente. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Está institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
South Los Angeles Health Projects WIC Program