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Make people feel at home…and open doors to new opportunities.
That’s what Gianna Bowers sets out to do each day in her work as a Staffing Manager for The Lee Group in the Chesapeake office.
Officially speaking, Bowers’ job is to interview job candidates and help place them in positions with clients and companies that have hired The Lee Group to keep a steady flow of team members on their job sites.
But for Bowers, it’s so much more than that. It’s helping people find a possible career. Helping them provide for their family. Helping them find a sense of worth.
She knows what that feels like because, when her husband was relocated to Virginia, it was The Lee Group that helped her find a position and career opportunity.
We wanted to know more, so we sat down with Bowers and asked about her more about her motivations, where we can find her in her free time, and what the best job advice she’s ever received, or given.
What was your first job?
I was able to teach at the dance studio I grew up in at a very young age.
What is the best job advice you ever received?
In an industry that has so many components involved that you cannot control, make sure you focus on everything that you can control to succeed.
What is the best job advice you ever gave?
Go to work and don’t waste my time! If you come to The Lee Group looking for work and then decide not to go, please believe there are others looking to take your position.
What motivated you to go into the staffing field?
The Lee Group placed me on an assignment when I relocated. I had such a great experience that I find it rewarding being on the other side of the process.
What are the biggest challenges out there for people searching for jobs today?
The biggest challenge out there is the competition for clicks over the internet. Timing is everything for us, that’s something that the job candidate and recruiters don’t necessarily have full control over. We aren’t sure EXACTLY when a client may or may not need a certain skill set out of a person. That’s why it’s a great idea to register with a staffing agency because you never know what could happen and when the right opportunity could come along.
What are the biggest challenges out there for companies looking to hire great team members today?
Knowing what tools can/will help them in the long run. Resumes can only tell you so much about a person. Knowing the person’s story, learned behaviors and what skills they are truly capable of can make the selection better in the long run. Companies should ALL utilize certain testing that can be applicable to them, whether it is a clerical skill set test, hands on, and, most importantly, personality tests. Just because someone has the right skill set on paper doesn’t always necessarily mean they are the right person for the company so digging a little further.
Can you recall a time where you saw the real impact a job, or having the right person working for a company, made in someone’s life?
I feel like I make an impact by giving people a chance and pointing them in the right direction. I tell candidates all the time when they tell me thank you, I tell them ‘no, thank you!’ I say ‘I can help get your foot in the door, but you maintain and keep your job.’ The true testament is just everyone referring their friends/family/coworkers to me throughout the years. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right in the industry.
What trends do you see in today’s job search and hiring world?
More companies are giving agencies a chance to make sure we find them the right people. I have noticed a lot more companies are open to a temp-to-hire route and in the long run it is beneficial. It’s a process the company and the employee can see if it could be a long-term relationship or it’s not a good fit.
When you aren’t helping companies find qualified people or helping people find good jobs, what do you do for fun?
I love hanging out with my family and watching us progress and grow. I also love watching sports and terrible reality TV.
What is one of your favorite quotes?
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
