CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Linking jobs
with job seekersMary Lantano helps companies
fill their employment openingsEngineers, massage therapists, accountants, laborers; my job puts me in contact with all of these jobs and more. I work at the business services division of Oahu WorkLinks. I help connect businesses with qualified applicants and provide further training and educational opportunities for those already employed.
I see the entire spectrum of the business world. On any given day I could be working with a large corporation or a family business, a mid-sized firm or a start up. I have placed entry-level people, executives, laborers, administrators and many others in a variety of industries.
My background in tourism, finance and human resources has been a great asset. For example, I used to work at a hotel, which needs a very diverse workforce. I saw up close how different skills and personalities interact to make a large organization run successfully.
I have also been a small business owner, and understand the different workforce needs in that arena.
I understand that a business' bottom line depends on its worker and the importance of finding the very best candidates no matter what type of business -- big or small.
Employers aren't charged for my services, and I save them time as well as money. Instead of paying for an ad and spending hours reviewing resumes of unqualified applicants, an employer can list his vacancies with me and review only those applicants that have passed an initial screening.
Networking is a crucial part of my job. I spend a lot of time on the phone staying current with the different needs of my clients as well as making new contacts such as human resources departments, managers and business owners to arrange presentations about our services. Being proactive also means that I read the classified ads and search the Internet every day, looking for additional businesses that could benefit from our services.
Hawaii At Work features tells what people do for a living in their own words. Send submissions to: business@starbulletin.com
