I have worked very closely with Aaron Lewis, now at Santa Cruz Staffing, for over 7 years now, starting when I was working at the Capitola Career Center and Aaron was a recruiter across the parking lot at Manpower. Our relationship continued through his time at Threshold, Bay Photo, Fox, and into Santa Cruz Staffing. His direct experience at different companies gives him insight into the unique nature of the Santa Cruz business community. If I were looking for a job myself, looking to hire someone, or trying to help someone get hired, Aaron would be my go to guy. He is very creative and easy to work with. Aaron has a talent for working with everyone ranging from someone looking for their first job, to someone who is in mid-career, or even someone going for that top level, executive position. I know of an instance recently where he was working with someone who was looking for their first job, was very shy, and had a hard time putting herself out there for interviews. Aaron coached her to build up her self confidence and land that first job very quickly. Jobseekers: Aaron will help you target your resume for a specific position or company, coach you on how to prepare for interviews, and how to present yourself as the very best candidate you can be. Employers: Aaron will help you find the right person for your opening. I've seen him solve some very challenging recruiting problems, finding just the right person for a unique position. Santa Cruz Staffing has always been my favorite agency in the Santa Cruz area (I can say that now; as a former government employee, we weren't supposed to show favoritism). Aaron is great, recruiting par excellence. read more

Santa Cruz Staffing - Your Next Job - Employment Agencies Near Me - Aptos, California

My experience with Santa Cruz Staffing has been nothing short of excellent. I quit my last job after 6 years because I needed a change of pace and wanted to expand my skill set. I sent an initial inquiry email to them in early December, and I heard back to take proficiency tests and schedule an appointment with them on the 10th. My appointment was on the 17th where I got to know Ellen who gave me some invaluable advice, resume review, and a pep talk with the enthusiasm that I only wish I could have had for finding myself a job, let alone for someone else. On the 19th I heard that I had a phone interview for the 23rd. That went well and I started work on the 26th. I'm throwing all these dates out for a reason. From the time I initially made contact to the time I actually started a job was a mere 16 days. And I had a meeting with them within 7 to actually start the process. This was an INCREDIBLE turnaround time for someone who has been applying to jobs non-stop for the past 3 months with little to no word back from any. I got feedback on my resume and interview skills that have undoubtedly increased my chances at getting hired again in the future, whether through them or on my own. They are incredibly kind and supportive, and genuinely want to find work for you. A large number of the positions they get are temp-to-hire so you can go in with a relatively stable outlook, and if a job isn't working out for you or doesn't fit your skill set, they are happy to help you find something else that works better for you. They want to get you working, and have you be satisfied with it, and you can tell they care from the moment you walk in. I look forward to working with them more in the future if I should need other employment, and I cannot recommend them enough. read more

This place is fantastic! I have used their services twice now- almost 2 years apart. Each time, the process has been easy to navigate and exciting. Yes, who knew looking for employment could be exciting?! It's the staff. Emily, Ellen and Gretchen get things DONE. Once you complete their online application, you should expect contact almost immediately. When I first met Ellen a few years ago, she taught me how to recreate my résumé to match well for their employers. LISTEN TO ELLEN and remember, they know what their employers are looking for and her advice is like gold. Not to mention they have "access" to the best jobs in the county. Once you're ready for interviews, Ellen and Emily take you through the entire process. It's all very professional and seamless. Ellen doesn't send you on interviews to waste your time, it's because she thinks it'll be a good fit. It's like match-making for employment! So be prepared and be ready! The first time I used SCZ Staffing I had one interview and was offered the job. (Yay!) This time I was scheduled for 3 interviews in one week. I was offered a position after #2 (Yay again!) so I didn't complete all 3, but the point is they're serious about finding you work and you should be serious about working. I am excited to begin my new position, but I'll miss my frequent interactions with Ellen! She's absolutely amazing at her job, but she's just kind of amazing anyway! Same with Emily and Gretchen-- they're ALL wonderful. You'll see what I mean when you work with them. And, I recommend you do. Good luck everyone! read more

I've worked with one other temp agency when I first graduated from college in MA, and found my experience with Santa Cruz Staffing to be far superior. I highly recommend SCS. They are extremely professional and dedicated to the work they do. Don't waste your time with any other agencies in the area. Go straight to SCS! I worked mostly with Ellen, and had a few interactions with Gretchen and Emily, too. All three of them are stellar! Ellen is committed to her work, which includes thorough feedback and instructions on how to improve your resume. I am so grateful for her help and support through this process, and couldn't be happier with the assignment I received. read more

Absolutely amazing team. Ellen is personable, professional, and offers great insight and advice on acquiring your dream job in the area. She connected me with one of the best companies in town, and I am so appreciative of her communication throughout the process. She was thorough, kept me apprised of updates, and most of all well connected. Thank you, thank you so much Ellen & Kim! read more

Initially I was very happy and hopeful when I signed up with SCS. My rep did a thorough interview and gave me some pointers and it was clear that she got what I was looking for. She kept in touch, checking in with me periodically. When a month had passed and I had not heard from her I sent an email. Days later I got a one-liner email telling me she had moved on. No, "but so and so would love to help you, etc." Just the one line. Today, 5 months later I get an email from the same author of the "one-liner" (I believe she is the manager there at SCS), cheerfully asking if I was still looking for work and would I like to "continue the relationship ". Really? Wow. What service. So turns out they are just like all the other staffing agencies who only serve themselves. Bummer read more

I tried to use Santa Cruz staffing as a job placement agency. I went down to their office and filled out their paper work, had an hour long interview and never heard from them until now. Eight months now after the original interview. I received a call from an entirely different person, courting because the found my resume online. My best summary is they had me in their office eight months ago and they couldn't place me and now they were trying to recruit me because they found me online. These people do not know their own business. read more

Ellen and everyone at Santa Cruz Staffing were so kind and professional during the process. Ellen took good care of me and set me up with a gig at UCSC. Go Slugs! read more

Its almost impossible to put into words how INCREDIBLY helpful Ellen Anderson as SC staffing has been. Heres an example. I show up to SC staffing to meet Ellen for the first time and they ask if I'm here for an interview. I was instantly embarrassed because I had to sneak away from work to meet Ellen so I was dressed extremely casually (talking yoga pants and polo). I had thought of it more as a "lets meet in person" than an interview. As soon as I walk into her office I apologize for the way I was dressed and I explained that I had been doing a somewhat messy task at work right before. Her response was, "Oh I am SO glad you said something because I was going to say something about your wardrobe." To me this is Ellen in a nutshell. She is very honest and will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about getting your dream job. That is exactly what I wanted in a recruiter. Someone who is honest and doesn't sugar coat everything. I want to be prepared for my possible interviews AND I WAS! So after this encounter we spoke for around an hour and she was so incredibly easy to talk to (hard to not stray off topic) and genuinely interested in me and my background, work and personal. During our meeting she was very honest and told me that it might take awhile to place me because my work history is all over the place. I had dabbled in a bit of everything when it came to jobs and I knew coming into the SC Staffing that I would be a tough person to place. I really appreciated her being honest and not getting my hopes up because I wasn't waiting on her phone call everyday. I knew she would call me if something came up. Sure enough she found me my DREAM job!!! When she called she was genuinely happy to have found something for me; you can tell she cares. She gave me every bit of info I might need to make the interview "a slam dunk" and it was! I am so grateful to her. Im sorry this review is so incredibly long but again, Its almost impossible to describe how helpful she has been. She is truly one of a kind and its nice to meet someone who can get a accurate feeling of you from only a couple of meetings. I wish I could write more but I think I may have over done it already. If you get the chance to work with Ellen consider yourself lucky. She is fabulous. PS: The Functional Resume is everything. It changed the way possible employers viewed me on paper and it changed the way I thought about myself. It is incredible to see what a difference it can make! It boosted my confidence to break down my skills and see all that I am capable of. I love Ellen and the entire staff at SC staffing! I wish I could leave more stars! read more

My experience at Santa Cruz Staffing has been just great. Everyone I've met has been very professional, and they took a personal interest in me to make sure they had a clear understanding of my abilities and interests. Everyone I dealt with has been warm, friendly, and very good at what they do. They like to place local people in local jobs that pay anywhere from well to great, I was pleasantly surprised at the pay windows offered for different types of work. And significantly, they have established long term relationships with business owners, small and large, throughout the county, so when they recommend you that can be very helpful in getting you a position, even though there are dozens of other applicants competing for that same spot, their personal recommendation carries some weight. Also they release you to companies that want to hire you faster, after charging less for the placement, than any other agency I've had experience with. I look forward to a long relationship with SCStaffing, they are ethical and well-run, I'm definitely going to take advantage of them here in SC, where good jobs can be hard to come by. read more

Aaron Lewis was my agent and he did an amazing job. He helped me make my resume appealing and when I gave him a date to get me a job by, he assured me he would try his best. He lined up very promising opportunities for me and he actually helped me get a job before the date I had in mind. Santa Cruz Staffing has a great team that will diligently work with you. I know my success was part of a team effort and that's why I recommend this agency over others because Santa Cruz staffing has a very solid team!!! read more

These guys helped me land a permanent position with great benefits, and I'm so grateful for all their help. I worked as a temp through Santa Cruz Staffing for a year and a half after having difficulty finding work in Santa Cruz County, despite having a substantial set of skills. There are lots of fake listings and scams out there, so having Santa Cruz Staffing in my corner alleviated a lot of stress. They really listened to my needs and helped me a find a great fit. Thank you Ellen, Gretchen and Emily for all your assistance! read more

I am writing this recommendation to give major kudos to Ellen Anderson and Emily Reinhardt for helping me find my amazing new job! I had been working as a nanny for two years prior to signing up with Santa Cruz Staffing and I was really worried that it would be difficult finding a job since I took such a long break from the corporate world. It only took two weeks for them to find a job for me, which I absolutely love. If you are looking for employment and having a difficult time, I highly recommend signing up with Santa Cruz Staffing to help you with the process. They don't disappoint! read more

I love Santa Cruz Staffing! They found me from an application I posted on SantaCruzJobs.com. You have to take some ProveIt! tests depending on the job and fill out their application, but it was so worth it! I met with Ellen and she was wonderful! She immediately submitted my resume for 2 jobs. Within a week I had interviews at both. The day I interviewed at both I got offered both! Ellen even negotiated a higher salary for me. Gretchen is wonderful too, and Stephanie is super nice. Thanks Santa Cruz Staffing!!! read more

I was changing careers and had not had to be actively Hunting for a job for 7 years and things had really changed in addition to the recession. I worked for several different companies over the span of 3 years with Santa Cruz staffing and now, I finally have a permanent position in science, which is my field. The staff was exceptional in finding suitable positions for me that were invaluable experiences. Gretchen especially was so wonderful at helping me through any difficulty I had with any of the companies. One of the best agencies I have worked with by far. read more

I deleted my previous rating, because of a couple of reasons. Yes the staff is helpful and friendly. They make you believe they are going beyond your expectations to get you placed, especially if the company directly hires you OR if you are hired before your temp contract is up WHY? Because they get a cut, I get it, but when you express that you are unhappy in the position that they've placed you in, they quickly turn sour! Why? I don't know. Ellen was really nice but when I expressed how unhappy I was in a direct hire position the agency got for me her attitude changed. I expressed to her how I felt and she got a little upset with me. I emailed her again and told her I'd give the place a second thought, and she quickly changed back to her happy, caring and helpful self again. She's never checked in on me again to see how I've been doing or if things have gotten better. I don't even exist to them anymore, why? Because they got their 12% cut based on the salary I was given, so of course I don't exist anymore... I really don't enjoy working where I was placed. The company is so unorganized and there have been so many accounting mistakes it is hard to do my job timely and accurately. My supervisor is not easy to work for and has made me feel like walking out and saying F*** this place on multiple occasions. I haven't been trained very well, and I'm not given the ability to learn or understand what I supposed to do, I'm just expected to do it. There is also a lack of leadership and a BUNCH of turn over. It seems no one lasts here and no one knows what's going on. If I had a choice I wouldn't use them again. In fact I have been working with another staffing agency and applying for other positions on my own to get placed in a better company with better opportunities. Their lack of care after you are placed and they are "done" with you is really disappointing! read more

Santa Cruz Staffing is amazing! They make job hunting so simple and easy, which if you've ever been job hunting, you know how stressful and tedious it can become. I mainly worked with Ellen, who is such a sweetheart and very passionate about her job. It's so refreshing to see someone who has the drive and dedication to help people like she does. Ellen showed me how to take my unique background and market myself in a much better way to employers. She always kept me updated throughout the job process and gave me great advice for interviewing. She made me feel really supported, which is hard to come by nowadays because hiring is so competitive and you feel so alone. I was able to get a job in a short amount of time, which I know I wouldn't have gotten if I applied on my own. I'm forever grateful to Ellen and the Santa Cruz Staffing team for all the help and this amazing opportunity! Thank you so much!!! read more

I reached out to Santa Cruz Staffing as I was transitioning out of a temporary position and initially connected with Gretchen. Gretchen was clear in communication when describing what I should expect prior to moving forward. She provided honest feedback and it allowed me to put things into perspective. Eventually, I was connected with Ellen who was extremely helpful and supportive during my job search. During our first meeting, Ellen took the time to go over my resume and break down what I needed to do in order to strengthen my appeal. From the very start she was already sending out my resume to spaces she thought I'd be a good fit. What I appreciated the most was that during times of rejection, Ellen remained positive about my potential and kept me focused on the positive/moving forward. She was very professional but also personable throughout my time with her. I'm grateful for the work and time that Ellen and Santa Cruz Staffing invested in me because they made me feel valuable, especially during times of hopelessness. As a result, I've secured an exciting and wonderful opportunity to be used in a space that's going to challenge me and further my growth both personally and professionally. I'd highly recommend Santa Cruz Staffing for anyone seeking employment and need people in their corner who are patient, diligent, fast, and invested in your professional development... that's what you'll get at Santa Cruz Staffing! read more

Santa Cruz Staffing was the first agency that I have ever tried to get a job through. It can be a little scary to take chances like that, but with the help of Ellen Anderson I was able to find job opportunities that I would have never thought to apply too. She helped me step outside of my comfort and skill zone to see what other skills and interests I have. I am very happy with the services I have received from Santa Cruz Staffing and Ellen. She is very positive and has your best interest at heart! If you are looking for a new job or a career change and would like a little help I recommend contacting Santa Cruz Staffing. read more

I remember having trouble the first time I tried to submit my resume online, but I am now a believer! After meeting in person once, I have had several extremely successful placements through Santa Cruz Staffing. Gretchen and Ellen did a wonderful job asking me questions relating to my resume experience, interests, desires, etc. for placements. They would call me with any opportunities that seemed like a fit and got additional information from me that I hadn't included on my resume but that was pertinent to each position. I could tell Ellen was genuinely frustrated when I was "a favorite" at a couple of interviews but another candidate was chosen! I have now worked for them three or four times, excellent fits each time, and even now, as I'm starting an assignment through another agency (at a site where I worked before), Ellen and Gretchen were excited and happy for me to have found something I love, even it isn't through them. I've assured them I'll be back in touch when this assignment ends, and I absolutely will! read more