| Published December 21, 2010 |
Volume
18, Number 12
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West Valley Staffing
Group Cautiously Optimistic on Hiring

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Charlie
Allport expects to see continued improvements in the
economy in 2011.
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By Nicole Zaro Stahl
NETWORK Editor
Since its founding in 1968, West Valley Staffing Group has grown
into one of the largest privately held staffing organizations in
northern California. It has blazed ahead thanks to an unusual approach
in the staffing business, centralizing operations in only two
locations. The Pleasanton mega-branch, at 5690 Stoneridge Drive, opened
13 years ago.
“Many staffing companies operate with a number
of different branches,” relates Charlie Allport, the firm’s Executive
Vice President. “We have chosen the mega-branch model. All specialties
are housed in our corporate office in Sunnyvale, and our Pleasanton
site is a mirror image on a smaller scale. Both offices have all
capabilities.”
Those capabilities are both extensive and
diverse. West Valley supplies staffing for “the entire spectrum of
specialized personnel,” Allport notes. Its areas of expertise are
reflected in four different business units. West Valley Engineering
offers all levels of engineering, technical, scientific, and light
industrial personnel. West Valley Technology provides software and IT
professionals. Prostar Staffing handles administrative and clerical
needs. Accountants Now! focuses on accounting and finance personnel in
a wide range of industries.
“We provide complete
contingent workforce management, including payroll services, project
management, onsite services, 1099 audit for compliance, and a myriad of
other customized services. If it has to do with staffing,
WVSG
has the answer.” he explains.
Along with diversity in job
categories and services, another key to West Valley’s longevity is the
relationships it builds with clients. “Our client relationships help to
keep us up-to-date and current on the latest cutting-edge
technologies,”observes Allport. “There is a tremendous amount of
information that needs to be shared when putting people to work.”
The
firm also shines when it comes to vetting candidates. “All candidates
are personally interviewed and screened by our recruiting team.
Automated testing enables us to evaluate skills in literally hundreds
of areas. We are talking to some of the brightest people with the most
up-to-date skills who are looking to be involved in cutting-edge
technology. We do lots of reading, but we also learn a lot from the
industry.”
Asked if the firm is doing business differently
under today’s difficult economic conditions, Allport pauses for a
moment and then replies, “The same things that run through most
businesses apply here: You have to have a high degree of customer
service. Customers have high expectations. Our services are only as
valuable as our ability to meet those expectations.”
On the
current employment market, Allport comments, “Since early fall 2009
we’ve seen steady improvement in all business units and we expect this
to continue in 2011.” While the highest demand appears in software,
information technology, and engineering, the upward trend is visible
across the board. The ability to use high-end professionals for
specific projects gives customers “extreme flexibility,” but many
companies bring on contract personnel with the hope of eventually
converting them to direct hire.
“Silicon Valley and the
surrounding areas are constantly reinventing themselves,” Allport
remarks. “It is an exciting place to be.”
For more information, visit WestValley.com.
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