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STAFF PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
For now, please read excerpts of the article published in 1999 at
http://www.bakery-net.com/rdocs/newsletr/99may.html
A robust economy and low
unemployment: Workers are happy!
The other side of the coin: how do employers find
the right person
when everyone's already employed?
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With unemployment at an all-time low, the supply of individuals seeking bakery industry employment has withered. Yet for one bakery industry recruiter, it has meant doubling staff and moving to a newly-acquired, company-owned, 5,600 foot facility. The reason: "We are client-driven," according to Michael Holm, president of Michael Holm & Associates. "Our clients are the bakery industry companies which engage us to find exactly the right person. In a growth economy, there is increased demand for the best people." |
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It is the exact opposite of the situation ten years ago when unemployment was relatively high. At that time, employment agencies were booming.
"The difference," explained Mike Holm, "in an "agency" the individual seeking a job is the client. A "recruiter," on the other hand, is engaged by a company to fill a specific need."
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"Our clients," Holm continued, "come from every segment of the bakery foods industry, from the largest volume wholesalers, to in-store supermarkets, to artisan bread shops, to bakery ingredient and machinery manufacturers." While most recruiters cover a wide range of industries, Holm & Associates has always specialized exclusively in the baking industry. "Specializing in the baking industry affords us the opportunity to know the products, processes, personnel, facilities and problems (total manufacturing and marketing environment) before we initiate a search," Holm observed. |
Staff members of Michael Holm & Associates have varied backgrounds.
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Mike graduated from North Central College in 1976 with a degree in Business and Psychology as well as a teaching certificate. After teaching high school business for two years, he went to work for a food industry employment firm, placing people in the bakery industry. Within five years, he became their top producer and was promoted to general manage of their food division. In 1985 he left to establish another employment company, which he later sold to his partner, establishing Michael Holm & Associates in 1991. |
The majority of Holm & Associate's business is from previously-serviced client companies. "One of the reasons (why repeat business is so high) is that we provide our client companies with an unconditional guarantee. In one case, a person had been placed and eleven months later, his father passed away, leaving him a family business. With no questions asked, we offered to replace the person without charge. But we're flexible, too," Mike continued. "During the interim, a candidate from within the company had emerged and was placed into the job, while another position had opened up. We filled the second position, at no charge."
From the potential employees' standpoints, Holm strives for an equal level of satisfaction. "This is someone's career," Mike emphasized. "You have to like people. We take it very seriously. We are very concerned that--not only is the person right for the job, but--the job is right for the person. We don't want to rush someone in if they're not going be happy, long-term."
Using their years of experience and contacts, Michael Holm & Associates operates "almost like a detective agency," according to Mike, to "continuously find the best qualified candidates in the industry." Accordingly, they maintain what is probably the largest portfolio of bakery resumes available.
If you are an employer seeking to fill any type of bakery management, technical, engineering, or sales position, please contact Michael Holm & Associates at 630.663.1195.
If
you are a candidate seeking such a position, mail your resume to: Michael
Holm & Assoc., 2050 W. 75th St., Woodridge, IL 60517
or email your resume to [email protected]
