Talent Show: New Business Helps Companies - and Resumes - Grow

Opening a new business in a construction zone might not appear to be the best idea, but John West, owner of Complete Staff, has made a living from putting people in the right place at the right time, so he's not worried.

The staffing and recruiting company—called Complete Staff—opened at S72 W16486 Janesville Road a few weeks ago, but it has been a business since 1991, based in Elkhorn, WI. West himself has been in the recruitment business for 27 years, and has worked with the big companies—including the auto industry in Detroit—as well as the smaller shops to help them prepare for whatever the market brings.

Opening a center in Muskego, West said he was optimistic on what the city has to offer and where it's going.

"We are growing, and that's always what companies look at. In addition, we have a great resource of machining here in the business park to place talent," he said, which falls into his wheelhouse.

"We specialize in everything here from office to industrial placements, and we want to get companies and our clients away from being reactionary to the market," he explained. The company works with businesses to hire temporary, contract, or permanent positions, and will also handle payroll.

"Our goal is to work with companies to get a profile of their needs, and start them thinking about adding talent before it's a method of last resort. We want them to get out in front of the need," he said.

Similarly, he explained that his goal in working with job seekers is to 'take them to market,' which helps them expand their thinking of the job they want, even if they are already employed.

"As people, we get stuck in the job we did last; the spectrum is much broader than people think, and we have access to those companies and positions that people may not have considered," he added. "The blinders often come on when people are job seeking, and we're here to take them off."

Complete Staff is also active in helping provide training between companies that are seeking talent and candidates who may have talent, but may need additional skills to fit the position. The idea is that some talents, like great communication and 'people' skills can't be taught, but are often what companies look for the most. Pairing great candidates with strong assets in those areas who are willing to learn additional skills helps both the company and the job seeker find each other.

Basically, West said employers are always looking for good help, no matter what the economy might indicate. A strong resume with a diverse background and a good work ethic are always at the top of the list.

If you're an employer looking to get ahead of the curve, or a job seeker hoping to improve your outlook, Complete Staff is open Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also visit them on the web at completestaff.net.