Staffing Solutions of Hawaii

I have had an excellent experience with SSOH. All of the staff were attentive, got right back to me when i would call or email. I worked directly with Jennifer Salabosa, who always made it a point to check on me during my assignment. SSOH is the first agency that i’ve worked for and i would recommend them to anyone.

I did not have a good experience with this company. The abuse they subjected me to was uncalled for, unprofessional and disturbing, especially coming from such a company. Appalling. Do not use this service if you want to enjoy your work search. Too bad the one person that treated me with dignity left the company. Smart girl.

So I applied for a job on a site, no where on the job description did it say anything about a staffing agency. I get a call back from them to schedule and interview and at first I was reluctant because it’s a staffing agency. But I thought I would give them a shot because I really wanted the job I applied for. They canceled the first appointment. Then when I finally got there I had to take a few computer tests. The computer was broken and my tests were not working out so well. I tried to tell the staff but they said it’s no big deal and had me redo them. Same problem. At the end it looked like I was brain dead and illiterate because of my scores. Then I meet with the person interviewing me and find out the job I applied for doesn’t even exist. She proceeds to tell me that they don’t have much for employment at the moment and what they so get in are low paying jobs that I was well overqualified for. I would also be expected to pay $ 2 – 300 per month in parking should I take one of these low paying jobs. It would be like me working just to pay the parking garage every month. Im all set. Once I seemed disinterested she abruptly tried to end the interview. Why they made such a big deal about bringing me in and wasting MY time with a FAKE job is beyond me. I was beyond mad at that point. Then to top it off I had to dish out way to much money for parking because I was there for hours wasting my time.

They are very friendly. Seem efficient. My experience with them was very good until I went to the project. I was very much looking forward to being involved in the election process project. They advertised the location as either Honolulu or Kapolei but on my first day they re-​assigned me to Iwilei, in the worst area of Honolulu. They expected me to work there at night. This area was not on their ad at all. I emailed them and said «no thanks» (never email, always call in a problem). I received a pretty nasty phone call from them that day. I also noticed that they amended the add to include Leeward side which is still deceptive. They also charged me $ 50 for a background check. If you use them, make sure you are 100% clear on what their intentions are.

After leaving my career a month ago and having applied to numerous jobs, I unexpectedly received a call from SSoH asking if I would be willing to come in for an interview. I thought it was a bit strange considering that all I did was upload my resume to their website; it’s not like I expressed interest in any of the positions they had to offer. With nothing to lose, I agreed to drive down to Ala Moana.
It took under a week before I was contacted after my interview. The woman who interviewed informed me about an open position, however, not at one of the companies she originally submitted my information to. I kindly declined the offer because it was in a field that I had once worked in and would not help me in reaching the ideal job I was seeking to attain, especially considering the two other companies proposed the opportunity for internal growth based solely on who they were.
A few days later, my recruiter called me and asked if I was interested in working for an insurance agency. Over the course of my job search, I’ve had three insurance agencies call and attempt to recruit me. I declined all of them since the job required me to make sales which I have no interest in doing. I mentioned this to my recruiter and she said that the job was administrative work, not sales. I found it quite suspicious, however, when she mentioned that I would be required to obtain a license in order to do my work. There should be no reason why a lowly data entry clerk needs a license. I agreed to have my information submitted, nonetheless. Several days later, a different recruiter called and said that the insurance agency was interested in me but I first needed to take more tests. Fast-​forward a few more days and I was called again by the same (other) recruiter. She told me the insurance agency wanted to have an interview with me. At first I was willing to meet with them, but then she told me to emphasize my ability to make sales during the interview. I had been deceived.
I immediately questioned her about the job, explaining that I was told it didn’t involve sales. She responded back in an aggravated tone asking if I had read the job description properly. (Remember, I was told about the job over the phone.) This woman scolded me over the phone, saying that I should have never let the process get this far if I was going to back out at this point. She then asked if I got the job whether or not it would end my job search. I replied saying I would continue to seek out other employment opportunities since selling insurance is not something I want to do. This time, she snapped back saying that if I had no intention in taking the job, I would be making her (not her company) look bad. Before hanging up, the recruiter noticed the two companies that my information had been sent to originally and had already filled their vacancies. It seemed almost as if she did this intentionally to spite me. On the other hand, I was doubly upset that I was left in the dark about those positions up until that point.
It surprised me when the same recruiter called back later in the day to tell me there was another opening at one of the original companies my information was submitted to. I told her that I would consider it since I had no other leads. A week later, she called me back and said the company wanted me to start the following Thursday. She originally told me that the job would be temporary yet could not clarify the length of time I would be employed. At first I was told it would be two weeks, and when the job was offered, I was told it was for one week with the possibility of being extended. By time this job was offered to me, I already had an interview set up with another company for a better job than anything SSoH had to offer me. When I told the recruiter this, she asked what company I would be interviewing with and what the pay they were offering me was. It was none of her business and I found it to be very nosy. When I asked if I could go to the other job’s interview first and then make my decision, she only allotted me an hour to decide if I wanted to take the job SSoH was offering. Ultimately, I declined the SSoH job and have not heard back from them since.
I read the reviews here and was by no means surprised with the treatment I received. There is an obvious lack of communication between the recruiters. I went to that interview with the other company in the aforementioned paragraph, and while I did not get the position, it was worth passing on the last job SSoH tried setting me up with because it was something that better matched what I wanted to do as a professional. I’m not sure if I’m on SSoH’s blacklist now, but it’s not like I’ll have a hard time sleeping at night. I’ll continue my job search without SSoH’s assistance. I advise anyone who is just looking for a job or something short-​term to help you reach your professional goals — not a full-​blown career you’re going to feel obligated or forced into — to do the same.

I find it interesting that the «owner» can respond so quickly to online reviews while her staff can’t be bothered to get back to applicants.
I haven’t heard from anyone at your company and, according to all the previous responses to other Unilocalers, I suspect feedback is the least of your concerns judging by the generic «one of my minions has been trying to get in touch with you» all negative reviews have been getting from your organization thus far. If you’re so concerned with what we have to say, how about you pick up the phone yourself and be accountable for the poor service your staff is delivering? Please don’t add insult to injury by pretending to care when it’s obvious you only seek to save face should potential/​future clients look you up online.
My feedback has already been posted and, for the second time, you have failed to address the concerns I and others have brought up. Sadly, I am not the least bit surprised.

So far since I’ve been working with staffing solutions of Hawaii, there have only been two very minor issues. Everything else has been great. I’m not sure where people have had issues with communication? Everyone is very quick to respond to calls and emails and they always are able to answer my questions. I applied to 23 jobs on my own when I moved here and had no luck, AT ALL. Staffing solutions worked with me to find positions I was happy with since I didn’t want a job that doesn’t provide parking. (Which is an issue all over the island) I never thought finding a new job would be so difficult, but thanks to SSOH I am currently working. And its all thanks to the ladies at the office for being helpful.

Staffing Solutions of Hawaii has informed me that I am no longer eligible for their recruiting services anymore now or in the future, but I honestly welcome this ban after my experience.
I have had issues with this company in the past, as well as have many of the SSOH employees I have worked with on my assignment. Instead of going into details, I will warn job-​seekers that they are horrible at communicating with their employees and can be very unprofessional. Yes, they may have a lot of employees and the company is growing bigger, but the quality of their customer service should not be something that’s sacrificed.

Although the current position I have now is through SSOH (and also am happy with), I don’t feel like they communicate well. Even now, when I send emails, they sometimes get responses, but overall, I would recommend Olsten over them.
They can be quick to find placement for you, but after the assignment is over, that’s it. After my first assignment from them ended, nothing. Even after I sent an email checking in, nothing. It wasn’t until I sent in another email after that I finally got a response. That’s not an effective business model, especially if their goal is to try to draw in as many people as possible so they’ll have a huge pool of candidates to pick and choose from (which is what the Craigslist ads aim to do).

SSOH was the second employment agency I interviewed with upon moving back home. The overall experience was OK, but definitely left a lot to be desired. Needless to say, I ended up finding a job on my own.
Here are the things that bother me about SSOH…
First of all, they post TONS of jobs on Craigslist, but do not disclose that they are the posters (so you think that you are applying directly to the company, not a staffing agency). That is really annoying, because people spend lots of time applying for countless jobs, and your resume and cover letter end up going to the agency rather than the company that is actually hiring.
The jobs that are posted on Craigslist (and you’ve now discovered that they were posted by SSOH because you were called in for an interview) stay on there for a very long time. I know for a fact that I, and I’m sure many others, am qualified for at least a handful of these positions, but was never told about them or recommended.
Second, they expect you to call in and let them know you’re available EVERY OTHER DAY. I think that’s a bit much. Once a week, maybe, but I was told that if I did not call every other day, I would be taken off of the «available» list.
Lastly, as mentioned by another reviewer, they love to drill it into your head that you will not find a job that pays more than $ 10 or $ 11 an hour, and even asking for a bit more is ridiculous. I understand that the pay here in Hawaii is less than on the mainland, but I certainly don’t appreciate being made to feel like my expectations of pay are outrageous… because they are not.
While I understand that not everyone can be placed, I don’t think that enough effort was put in to try and place me. I have a degree from a good school, have excellent references from my employers, and am a extremely hard working and driven. Not sure why I was never called for an interview from the 2 places that SSOH supposedly recommended me to.
And yes, I do find it strange that the two 5 star reviews are from employees…

One of the first things SSOH asked me when I walked in the door was to be sure to write a review of them on Unilocal,which I thought was a little bit strange. Shouldn’t I at least see if they can get me a job before I write them a review?
Another strange bit — the authors of the two non-​filtered 5-​star reviews (Gemma R. and Cassie T.) work as recruiters for the company (SSOH). I have emails from them!
So here I am, 6 months, 4 job submissions and 2 interviews later, with no job. If you don’t get the first job you interview for, they put you on the back burner and then they kind of forget about you unless you constantly check in with them (I’d say weekly). Even then, your chances of getting a job that pays over $ 10 an hour are pretty slim.
So, 2 stars for at least getting me in the door for a couple interviews. But no more for lack of follow-​up, interest, and their unhealthy fascination with Unilocal

I have thoroughly enjoyed working for Staffing Solutions of Hawaii since August 2010, both for the assignments and other temporary staff members I have worked along side with. The admin staff are very professional, you can count on them to do what they say they are going to do.

Staffing Solutions is amazing, they really go the extra mile for you! I was a little apprehensive going an employment agency, I wasn’t sure if they would be able to match me with the job I needed. However, while I was in the interview I felt so at ease they really made me feel comfortable. Best of all, they found a great job for me and I am very happy to say it is all a good fit! I recommend them to everyone I know that is looking for a job or wants to find a better job!