JJC Recruitment 2-16-2024

RECRUITMENT GUIDE February 2024

Supplement to the

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How to recruit and retain quality employees Great employees are the backbone of successful businesses.

Savvy business owners recognize the important role workers play in helping a business meet its goals, and recruiting and retaining such employees is a high priority for the world’s most successful firms.

According to the recruitment resource Betterteam, 68 percent of human resources professionals report problems filling positions - an increase of 50 percent since 2013. Forbes magazine puts the potential cost of a single bad hire between $25,000 and $50,000.

New employees are investments and due diligence should be used to find the right ones. Recruiting top talent may require thinking creatively, and it almost always requires significant effort on the part of the business doing the hiring.

Write a well-crafted job ad The job advertisement is the first thing jon seekers will see and it will be the initial tool to help whittle down the applicant pool.

Use clear job titles that explain

the job and be concise; avoid buzzwords like “wizard,” “rock star” or “ninja.”

Candidates tend to skim job descriptions, so avoid wordy phrasing and confusing job roles.

Break down responsibilities into job duties, and be sure to mention specific make-or-break skills applicants will need to have.

While you still may get some unqualified individuals to apply, you may weed out others with specifics of the job.

Establish a list of traits you want new employees to possess An applicant’s skills, education and experience are important.

However, this should not be the only factor to consider when mulling a potential hire. Seek employees who have the potential for growth and can get along with colleagues and existing and new clients.

Use various job boards to advertise Many popular job boards, such Continued on page 4

February 2024 Journal Courier every department, we will be able to provide that same service to more customers across a larger geographic area.”

Springfield Plastics, Inc. Expansion Bringing 65 New Jobs to Auburn After breaking ground in April 2023, Springfield Plastics’ 63,000-sq.-ft. building expansion in Auburn, Illinois, should be completed soon. Along with the expansion, Springfield Plastics will be hiring for up to 65 new full-time positions.

Production of Springfield Plastics tile and fittings is handled at the Auburn location. New and expanded areas that will be part of this growth plan include production, raw materials, management, quality control and assurance, and warehousing. To get the new location off to a successful start, Springfield Plastics is currently hiring factory workers, janitors, and maintenance workers.

“Having the expanded manufacturing capabilities along with implementing even newer technologies will allow for significant growth in our production capacity,”said Doug Baker, Engineering “We are excited to begin this new era at Springfield Plastics,”said Manager at Springfield Plastics.“Our new facilities and staff Steve Baker, President of Springfield Plastics.“Our board, executive additions to operate them will fold seamlessly into our continued commitment to provide more product on time to our loyal and team, and staff have been working tirelessly to put this plan in new customers.” place and bring a disciplined approach to our growth plans.”

Tremendous growth in the agricultural industry, specifically within A history of success the tile drainage industry, has led to this new construction.

Springfield Plastics is a leading Midwest manufacturer of corrugated plastic drainage pipe. In 2000, the company became Over the past several years, Springfield Plastics has expanded the only U.S. manufacturer certified as using only 100% virgin to deliver its 100%-virgin-resin made product to a nine-state material. area and added a second location in Humboldt, Iowa, to service customers farther to the north and west. The staff additions to ac- “This company began with a few simple thoughts,”said Steve commodate growth plans are expected to occur in sales, shipping, Baker.“A commitment to manufacturing the best product on the accounting, engineering, and manufacturing. market, delivering a high level of service to our customers, and a steadfast dedication to our employees and the communities in “Our customers have come to expect a high level of service from which we operate. Forty-five years later I can say with confidence our committed front-line and support staff,”said Jennifer Furkin, that these are still our guiding principles.”

Vice President of Springfield Plastics.“By adding depth to nearly

NOW HIRING Springfield Plastics is currently looking to fill several full-time positions. To learn more, see job openings, or apply for a job, visit spipipe.com/careers.

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4 Journal Courier Continued from page 2 as Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor, offer free advertising for job posters. They are good places to start because they generate lots of traffic. Social media also can work much in the same way as free job boards, according to Workable, a recruitment software company. If you don’t find success with free job boards, you may need to go elsewhere.

Attend job fairs and utilize interns Building a community connection through local job fairs, networking with alumni organizations, and relationships with universities, trade schools and colleges can provide constant resources for new

February 2024

Did you know?

talent. Plus, applicants may feel more comfortable working for a company that has outreach in the local area.

Follow up on references It may take time, but it’s important that references are contacted and previous employment is confirmed. Due diligence with a candidate’s references ensures companies get a bigger picture of potential hires, according to Indeed. Ask questions like “What is it like to work with the candidate?” or “What are their biggest strengths and weaknesses?”

Finding quality talent is an important task that’s vital to the success of businesses big and small.

Professionals who have resolved to find a new job in the year ahead may need to be patient. A 2018 survey from the recruitment agency Randstad US found that it takes an average of five months for job seekers to find a new job. In addition to being patient, job seekers also must prepare to do more than simply scan job boards and apply to positions that

Launch Your Career at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital After years of study and hard work, you’ve graduated from nursing school. Now what?

“No matter how well prepared you are, the transition from classroom to bedside can be a little daunting,” said Carrie Carls, vice president and chief nursing officer at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital (JMH). “We’re proud to support new nurses with our Nurse Residency Program, which helps ease that transition and ensure they feel confident caring for patients.”

The Nurse Residency Program is a yearlong learning and mentorship experience for all newly licensed registered nurses hired at Memorial Health locations, including Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. This evidence-based program helps nurses develop professional skills while honing specialty-specific clinical skills through simulation and hands-on learning.

All nurse residents are also connected with a mentor who can provide support, guidance and expertise throughout the first year and beyond.

“Our nursing team at JMH is a close-knit community,” Carls said. “All of us are ready to help new nurses adjust to the hospital environment and work on the skills that will make them successful in their careers.”

The JMH nursing team has been honored with Magnet® Designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center four successive times—an achievement met by only 2% of hospitals nationwide.

appeal to them. The Randstad US survey found that professionals edited their resumes an average of four times and wrote four cover letters during their job hunts. Job seekers also may want to focus on preparing for job interviews, as the average job seeker reported being interviewed five times during their searches.

New Opportunities for Experienced Nurses All nurses hired at Memorial Health hospitals—whether they are new graduates or have years of experience—complete Nursing Team Onboarding, which provides the resources and information needed to start caring for patients.

Memorial Health offers educational assistance and opportunities to nurses looking to further their careers with an additional degree, advanced training or certification.

“Our nursing culture at JMH and Memorial emphasizes lifelong learning,” Carls said. “We’re pleased to be able to offer these opportunities to nurses at any stage of their careers.”

February 2024 Journal Courier

How to master modern job hunting

Quitting a job might never seem like the best option for established professionals, but it’s a route that was taken by an incredibly high number of workers in recent years.

According to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50.5 million people quit their jobs in 2022. Improved job prospects undoubtedly contributed to that high turnover, but professionals who left their jobs without another one already lined up may need some help finding their next gig.

Significant layoffs in the early months of 2023 coupled with tens of millions of individuals

leaving their jobs voluntarily in 2022 could potentially make the competition for new jobs more competitive. Professionals confronting that situation can consider these tips as they seek to master the art of modern job hunting.

· Use LinkedIn to your advantage. The professional social media platform LinkedIn is an invaluable resource, especially for professionals looking for a new job. Even professionals who are still working but hoping to land a new job can utilize LinkedIn to their advantage, as many recruiters embrace the strategy Continued on page 6

Find your passion at Memorial Health In Jacksonville and beyond, Memorial Health is hiring for a wide range of positions. All experience levels are needed. Visit our new careers website and see everything Memorial has to offer.

Apply at jobs.memorial.health

Memorial is an equal opportunity employer.

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6 Journal Courier Continued from page 5 of passive recruiting, which involves scouring LinkedIn for professionals who are not actively looking for a new job but might be interested if the right opportunity presents itself. Professionals who aren’t already on LinkedIn should join and create a profile that highlights their experience and skills. Workers who are already on LinkedIn can periodically update their profiles and use the platform to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in their industries. · Create a portfolio of your work. Landing an interview may be the first goal, but professionals also must be ready to master that interview should the opportunity arise. A portfolio that showcases past work and accomplishments can help

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search.

candidates present themselves in the best light possible. Utilize a free or inexpensive service like WordPress that hiring managers and others can visit quickly and easily to see your work.

can wait for opportunities at companies they want to work for.

Targeting specific companies can take some of the frustration out of modern job hunting, which often requires scouring a seemingly endless string of job openings. · Identify who you want Out-of-work professionals can to work for. Experienced professionals who are still working still target specific firms, but they also can utilize down time to may have the luxury of patience research other organizations in an when beginning their job search.

That luxury ensures professionals effort to widen and expedite their

· Work with a recruitment agency. Much like job seekers grow frustrated at sifting through job postings, organizations may not have the will or the resources to devote to finding worthy candidates for their openings.

That’s why organizations often turn to recruitment professionals, who do the leg work when companies are looking to hire new people. Recruitment professionals earn their money from the companies doing the hiring, not the person getting hired. So there’s no downside to utilizing recruiting professionals in your search.

Modern job hunting can be difficult. But various strategies can help talented professionals land rewarding jobs.

FIBER / IPTV TECHNICIAN –Ideal candidate will be self-driven, ambitious, and have a strong desire to please customers. Install & Maintain cable tv, internet and fiber services to customers’ homes. Technical experience and/or related training, troubleshooting and splicing. Physical demands (bending, squatting, up to 75 pounds). Valid Drvrs Lic required.

40hrs/week + call. Some weekends/evenings. Benefits Package. Drug-Free Workplace. EOE Preference will be given to candidates who are living in the CASSCOMM service area.

Send resume, salary requirements and references to CASSCOMM, Attn HR Dept, PO Box 200, Virginia, and IL 62691.

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