What Does a Staffing Specialist Do?

<p>As a staffing specialist, you can work in the human resources (HR) department of a large company or corporation, where you would be responsible for staffing, recruiting, and hiring new employees. You might also work for a temporary placement service, interviewing and hiring temporary workers for your firms' clients, which are often larger companies. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $62,290 (<i>for all HR specialists</i>)</td></tr> <tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 8% (<i>for all HR specialists</i>)</td></tr> <tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> Standard office setting</td></tr> <tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Compensation and benefit managers, customer service representatives, human resources mangers</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WorkingAtACompanyOrBusiness">Working at a Company or Business</h3> <p>If a business or company's HR department employs you, you could be responsible for managing the company's hiring needs and recruiting new employees. You'll need an understanding of each department's duties and needs, so you'll discuss these requirements with supervisors and department leaders before recruiting new staff members. You might interview candidates, attend job fairs and other hiring events, and receive resumes. You could also work on creating or maintaining current hiring policies. </p> <p>The qualifications and experience needed to be a staffing specialist vary depending on the company and industry. Many companies prefer applicants with previous human resources experience and knowledge of tracking software, such as Taleo or Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Some employers may also want bilingual applicants for staffing positions. </p> <h3 id="section---WorkingAtAStaffingAgency">Working at a Staffing Agency</h3> <p>Staffing agencies, commonly known as temp agencies, work with larger corporations and businesses to help provide staffing needs. You could potentially be responsible for interviewing, recruiting, and hiring the best employees you can find to fill your clients' needs. Other duties include welcoming applicants and evaluating and training them (if applicable) to help improve their skills. To perform theses duties, you want to have strong communication, customer service, computer, and organizational skills. </p> <p>Staffing agencies look for staffing specialists who are dependable and have administrative skills. In this job, you may be asked to answer phones and maintain files, as well as keep in contact with clients, to ensure temporary workers are doing their jobs and your clients are satisfied. You may also contact prospective clients to discuss their staffing needs. Travel may be involved, since you'll be going to client work sites, and you may also attend job fairs to recruit candidates. </p> <p>Education and experience tends to vary; you need at least a high school diploma, but an associate's or bachelor's degree in business administration would be helpful. In addition, you need to have basic math and computer skills. Some staffing agencies may require you to have previous staffing agency experience. Other characteristics you will need are multitasking and problem-solving skills. </p> <h3 id="section---Certification">Certification</h3> <p>You may improve your employment options by earning certification in human resources. The HR Certification Institute (HRCI) offers three categories of certification. One option is the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and another is the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The third is the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). Each category has specific requirements, including a mix of education and experience, according to the HRCI website (<i>www.hrci.org</i>).</p>