In 1988, Chuck Smith was seeking employment when he came across a classified ad posted by New Office Temps LTD searching for skilled workers. After working as a temp, he became the payroll manager, and in 2000, Smith and his wife, Leora Baumgarten, purchased the agency. Now called NewHire, the agency helps small to mid-size businesses find the best available talent for their companies.
Ten years ago, the company developed new software that evolved to address clients’ needs and eventually knocked out staffing and temp positions. “When combined with the expertise of NewHire’s staff, we have developed a process for hiring that is a better solution for our customers than what temp-to-hire staffing often provided,” explains Sean Little, an Account Manager.
NewHire’s software and employee expertise fosters partnerships with their clients. “Not everyone is comfortable with interviewing to fill a job that they feel connected to. We offer coaching and tools to ease the nerves we sometimes sense from our clients,” explains Alicia Hall, a Staffing Coordinator Team Lead.
NewHire provides several levels of service for businesses. Depending on their needs, customers can choose to only use NewHire’s software, which includes an easy-to-complete, one-page employment application with a fast-screening feature. More often, NewHire’s employees will write and post job descriptions, as well as conduct phone interviews to start the interview process.
Both Alicia and Sean emphasize that NewHire’s business model is grounded in finding the “right person for our client’s companies, not the right company for the person.” They work on building long-haul relationships because they know that many of their clients have had negative experiences with overly-aggressive recruiters.
The company has been headquartered at Novel Coworking’s 73 W. Monroe location since 2014, and, according to Alicia, they love their space. As the team grows, they have expanded from two offices to three.
“It’s great working in a coworking environment because we can make use of the other companies’ expertise,” Sean says. They took advantage of some of this expertise with 10 Speed Labs when they were building new software and needed some technology help.
When NewHire’s staff needs to change up locations or find a quieter spot away from the sales team, they often spread out and work on the third or fifth floors. Outside of the office, the team takes advantage of their downtown location to fuel their love for Chicago doughnut shops.
As the company continues to grow and assist other businesses with hiring and increasing their staff, NewHire knows from experience what makes a good employee: Their team is a perfect example of how important the right people are to a company’s success.