Manpower helps businesses find the right people for temporary and permanent positions. We help businesses grow while helping job seekers find meaningful, sustainable work.   Manpower first opened an office in Lincoln in 1959.

Manpower is part of the ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) family of companies.

Key leadership includes:
Jeffrey Joerres, chairman and CEO, ManpowerGroup
Jonas Prising, president of the Americas, ManpowerGroup
Jorge Perez, senior vice president, Manpower, North America

What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours? – At Manpower, we are experts in locating top talent. Our ability to successfully match candidates to client requirements has been our strength for more than 60 years. Our extensive knowledge of the local and national talent landscape helps us recruit the right people for the job. We have the ability to customize staffing solutions for clients, rather than taking the “one size fits all” approach.

What do you like about doing business in Lincoln? – Lincoln is a relatively large community with a small town feel. The partnerships we make in the community are long term, and that is probably my favorite thing about doing business in Lincoln. I have worked in this industry in other areas of the state, and Lincoln has been by far my favorite. People are honest and hold values similar to my own and those of Manpower.

What kind of community organizations/groups are you involved with? – I am a part of the local Workforce Investment Board, Northview Lincoln Business Association Board of Directors, United Way Women in Philanthropy, LHRMA Diversity Committee, New American’s Task Force, LIBA, and we are members of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years? – In the wake of the recession, many employers have been turning to staffing companies as their business starts to ramp up. As demand for goods and services slowly increases, these employers are seeking temporary staff until they are confident they can sustain a full-time hire. Temporary staffing offers a flexible workforce model that helps companies meet fluctuating demand.

Employers are more specific than ever about finding the exact right person for a job. They are looking for the perfect match in both skills and cultural fit. Many are taking the approach of hiring a potential employee on a temporary basis in order to evaluate the individual on-the-job. This period serves as an extended job interview, and allows both the employer and the candidate to ensure that the fit is right before committing to a permanent, full-time position.

What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced? – One of the biggest challenges our company has faced was (and continues to be) the Great Recession. Like most companies, the recession significantly impacted our business. Given that the services Manpower provides are entirely related to hiring and employment, which basically fell off a cliff, it was a tremendously challenging period. The recovery has been much slower than expected, and the world of work is wildly different than it was pre-recession. Businesses are more selective than ever about the people they hire, and we are experiencing skills mismatches in many industries, resulting in shortages of qualified talent. Employers are hesitant to bring on new employees given the continued economic uncertainty, and if they do, they want a candidate that is a perfect match. It really is a “new normal.” The good news is that there is a lot of opportunity to be creative with hiring and workforce strategies.

What has been your most important achievement as a business? – On any given day, ManpowerGroup has a half million associates out on assignment around the world. We have a massive impact on driving business success worldwide and helping people find meaningful work that allows them to support themselves and their families.

What was the biggest turning point in your business? – It would be hard to pinpoint one single turning point. One of the more recent significant events in company history occurred in 2011 when our parent company, formerly Manpower Inc., changed its name to ManpowerGroup to reflect our global leadership in providing innovative workforce solutions for clients.

What is one goal for your business that you have yet to accomplish? – With unemployment at historically high levels, we are working tirelessly to bring government, business and academic leaders together to figure out how to get the existing workforce back on the job and how to ensure that our young people are work-ready, not just graduate-ready when they complete their education.

How can we help you? Call us today: 402-484-5511 or visit Manpower at  1631 Pine Lake Road, Suite 6
us.manpower.com

*Interviewee: Angela Caldwell, Branch Manager
angela.caldwell@manpower.com