Free help for small firms in hiring

Many small business owners juggle multiple roles: CEO, secretary, receptionist, manufacturer, sales rep and human resources director. And don't forget bookkeeper, janitor and maintenance engineer.

There's no question that the life of a small business owner can become very complicated and sometimes cause that owner to feel overwhelmed. While the workload may be daunting, there are resources that can lighten the load and even provide money for help.

We had a chance to visit with Amy Persell, director of service delivery for the Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County, to learn how her agency can help small business owners.

Best known for administering the county's jobs program, WorkSource can offer small business owners a free outlet for recruiting and screening applicants for open positions. The business owner can hand off a significant load to an organization committed to connecting job seekers with the right positions.

The WorkSource solution is user-friendly for employers. A job posting can be seen by thousands of prospects who are then pre-screened to ensure they meet the criteria.

"We can help an owner create a posting where their business identity information is suppressed. This establishes the need for candidates to meet with an employment specialist to learn about the position and to determine if it would be an appropriate fit," Persell said.

The employer can then request that only the five best qualified candidates be forwarded for review.

Employers also are able to request that candidates provide an application, resume, cover letter and any specific pre-employment testing that may be needed. In some cases, simple testing can be administered by WorkSource as well.

The employer can work directly with WorkSource by partnering with a business services representative. Simply call the WorkSource office at 425-258-6330 or send an email inquiry to snohomishcojoborders@esd.wa.gov. This relationship will provide tremendous help and personalized support to the owner.

WorkSource also offers owners an incentive to hire and train new employees. An on-the-job training program provides an employer with 50 percent funding support for up to four weeks of training to reduce the cost of hiring someone still learning about the job.

"Hiring and training new employees can place significant financial strain on a small business," Persell said. "The OTJ Working Interview program reduces some of the risk in hiring a new employee by absorbing some of the training costs. Over 60 percent of working interview participants successfully continue at the business."

Small business owners in east Snohomish County should know that WorkSource has an affiliate in Monroe and is opening a new office there this fall to complement existing offices in Everett and Lynnwood.

If you're a small business owner looking to shed a few hats, the WorkSource solution is just around the corner. Or you can also visit WorkSource online for more information.

Pat Sisneros is the vice president of college services at Everett Community College. Juergen Kneifel is a senior associate faculty in the EvCC business program.

Snohomish County WorkSource

Online: www.worksourceonline.com

Offices: Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., Suite 320, 425-258-6300; Lynnwood, 20311 52nd Ave. W., Suite 300, 425-673-3300; Monroe affiliate, 19705 U.S. 2, 360-794-1358.