The Job Shop, a San Francisco-based recruiting firm that offers unique recruiting services and placement guarantees, opened its newest office in downtown Des Moines in August. Located in the Court Avenue Business Suites, the firm specializes in both permanent and temporary placement for a variety of industries including, insurance, banking, law and finance.

Founded in 1998 by Des Moines native Liz Frome, The Job Shop services clients and candidates in industries ranging from advertising to technology. In addition to locations in Des Moines and San Francisco, the company also has an office in Los Angeles.

To better compete in its field, Frome said she wanted The Job Shop to offer something unique – a firm that works with candidates and clients on an equal basis.

“A lot of agencies only focus on the clients, but 60 percent of our candidates are referred to us because we know how to handle them, and I believe in that,” she said. “We’ve succeeded with that approach, and I think people will find that we are a breath of fresh air.”

Pam Jorgensen, associate director of the Des Moines office, said The Job Shop’s recruiting and business philosophy of working with candidates and clients, as well as offering money-back guarantees or free replacement workers, contrasts with traditional recruiting principals.

“I think Des Moines is ready for something different and The Job Shop is different from the typical recruiting company that follows a model based on the number of calls you make,” she said. “We focus on the idea that one call can be a great call if you get out and meet with people.”

The Job Shop offers a unique 60-day guarantee to clients if a permanent or temporary worker vacates a position. Its fees are 20 percent of a permanent worker’s salary and 60 percent of a temporary worker’s salary.

“We firmly believe in our product, which is why we offer a full refund or a replacement,” Frome said. “That’s very unusual for this business. A lot of agencies pro-rate their guarantees, but we don’t because we believe in the candidates we’re sending out there.”

Frome said if the company can’t place someone in a particular field it is not familiar with, candidates will be referred to an agency that is more qualified.

“We’re not just recruiting people, we’re trying to help them find their dream job,” she said.

Jorgensen has worked as an independent career consultant, assisting clients in a wide range of areas from determining career goals to employee retention strategies. She also worked for Spherion Professional Recruiting in Denver, where she focused on the recruitment and marketing of accounting and finance candidates. She said The Job Shop embodies the kind of personal attention she is used to giving clients and candidates.

“My clients usually end up being my friends, because to make a good placement, you need to get to know people beyond what their skill set is,” Frome said. “I believe in spending a lot of time with clients and finding out what kind of a person they are and The Job Shop works that way, too.”

Because word of mouth is so important in the employment search industry, Frome said, her company offers a competitive referral reward system that rivals the commissions of other headhunters. For every candidate placed in a permanent position, it pays $100 to the person who referred them. The company also pays $25 for referrals of temporary workers.

“It’s an extra bonus,” she said. “It’s our way of saying ‘thank you.'”

Frome said her immediate goal for the Des Moines branch is to get its three employees comfortable with The Job Shop’s open work space and process so the business will become profitable by the beginning of 2003. By this time next year, she wants to have four or five employees working downtown with the ultimate goal of placing up to 50 temporary positions a week and five permanent positions a month.

“We know Manpower has contracts with large companies like Principal and Pioneer, but we’re not looking to take them over,” Frome said. “We’re looking for a piece of the pie.”

Jorgensen said there are a lot of candidates in Des Moines looking for jobs.

“I see a lot of potential here,” she said. “People are holding onto their jobs right now, but they’re sending out resumes in case an opening comes up. It’s our job to educate them and help them understand who their competition is.”  Jorgensen said she strives to help people find their dream job and companies to find their dream employee. The most rewarding part of her job is making that match.

“When you put a person in a job, you know they’re going to work at and love, everybody’s lives are better,” she said. “It’s awesome.”