Kelly Services
Kelly Services did not start as a traditional staffing agency, but over time transformed into one. It began when a few of Kelly's colleagues approached him in dire need of a secretary or typist, just for a day, because someone did not show up to work or there was a heavy workload. Kelly then started to outsource some of his employees to help out and eventually began assembling a team of ready-to-work office employees to outsource whenever the need arose.
As these temporary workers became more in demand, the business grew. Its name changed to just Kelly Services in 1966 to reflect its evolved purpose-to provide employees for all types of industries around the world.
Kelly Services is a global staffing agency. With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, the company initially focused on staffing within the US, but in 1968 it expanded to Canada, and then an office opened in France four years after that.
The company has opened its arms to more industries over time as well. At the start, Kelly staffed for companies with light industrial, electronic assembly, call center, and of course office needs. Now, however, they help find work for people in education, law, finance, and health care, to name just a few. Such expansion was possible because of the company's success with its starting industries.
In 2013 alone, Kelly Services brought in about $5.4 billion and helped find work for 540,000 people. There are 1,100 employees at the company headquarters and 7,000 workers in locations around the world as well. Despite the impressive numbers, though, the company focuses on building relationships with all clients. They strive to bring the individual into every business transaction.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Experience
- Commitment
- Partners
- Benefits
It is hard to find a company with as much experience as Kelly Services. Not all staffing agencies can say they have 68 years of experience under their belts. With such a long history, Kelly Services has proven that they can do business in both economic high's and low's.
They've also shown a commitment to helping job seekers find a position and they've been able to expand their repertoire in terms of industry and location. Whether you need a job right in town or are looking abroad, Kelly can probably help. Kelly Services specializes in the the following industries:
- IT
- Science
- Engineering
- Finance
To their credit, Kelly also has friends in high places. An estimated 99% of their partners are Fortune 100 businesses, which gives you a greater chance of job satisfaction when you do connect with a company. Even though they work with big companies, Kelly Services strives to focus on the individual, not just business, and they regularly study their industries to stay apprised of what companies today are looking for in applicants.
If you do get contacted by a recruiter, they'll work in detail with you to understand your strengths and goals and match you with the right company. Because of this, it's less likely that you'll end up in the wrong job. And if you work through Kelly Services, they offer good benefits to those who are eligible, including healthcare, dental, and vision insurance and vacation days.
The Bad
- Complaints
- Location flexibility
- Primarily short-term positions
- Lengthy process
Since Kelly Services tries to place job seekers in the right position, their process to start can be a little overwhelming. To get started online, job seekers will need to set up an account, navigate through a variety of search filters, and then apply for a job. Common complaints include:
- Lack of full time positions
- Long wait list
- Difficulty finding qualified positions
Location flexibility can also be a problem. Job seekers should keep in mind that Kelly Services is a staffing agency, and with that territory comes mostly temporary positions, the waiting game, and a lack of guarantees.
Many people start out as temps with Kelly and have since found themselves a fulfilling career. But by and large, it seems like Kelly Services offer mostly short-term positions. On top of that, you're still a contract employee, which means you're not guaranteed work-or benefits-in the long run. When you do get contacted by a recruiter, beware of those factors before you get your hopes up.
Kelly certainly pays attention to the details during the recruiting and interviewing process, and once you get contacted, they'll do their best to match you with the right company. But because that process is so extensive, it might also take you awhile to find a job. And while patience is a virtue, results are nice too.
The Bottom Line
Kelly Services has the experience, recognition, and repertoire to make them just about as credible as any staffing agency can be. What's more, they're informed about their industries and, location-wise, are very available.
That being said, don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Because Kelly won't charge you any fees to use their services, it can't hurt to sign up and start applying. But while you wait for a recruiter to deem you "qualified," keep searching through other agencies as well. Worst-case scenario: you have multiple recruiters contacting you with an opportunity to find your dream job.
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User Reviews
Star Rating
9 Reviews
Review Breakdown
Sentiment Criteria
Eddie Rios
Kelly Services has been a a great partner in temporary work staffing. Sometime that work leads to permanent positions. Kelly is a valuable resource that helps in efficient job placement allowing for greater employment success. I can't recommend them enough.
Jesse
I got a job through Kelly Services straight out of College in my field, and in the company i wanted full time at eventually. The day i walked in for my first day of work I was sent home. This was due to an issue with my contract. Apparently Kelly Services offered me too much money. This was after i moved to a new city for this job. I was forced to sign a new contract for 2.5$/h less than the original contract. KS would not budge a nickel, if i didn't sign this contract i had no job. Half way through my contract we had to change contracting companies and i was very thankful for it, i would never work at KS again. I do not recommend this company to anyone.
Laurie
I called Sherry S at Kelly Services Plano and was told about a job opening temp to hire. She told me she would get back to me with feedback about my interview. Well i left her three messages and she hasnt even bothered to call me back! Totally unprofessional! I am going somewhere else. Just wanted to let others know this is not a professional company. Very disappointed.
Thomas Hullinger
They have the ability to match you with a great job and if you have the right attitude and skills it will be a great fit. It is easy to sign up with them and they are a great help to the employee and employer.
Kim Dorsey
You have to give them a star just to write a story, they don't deserve 1 star. I had an interview with them right before Thanksgiving the location Columbus Ohio on Broad Street. They interviewed me I was made to believe that I was going to have a position on 12/4/2017 they don't return phone calls and ignore you when you do call I made several trips to the office to speak to the recruiter I have not yet heard from them to tell me if I even had a job do not use them you would end up jobless.
Jessica
I contacted Kelly Service on a job posting that I was interested in. I was informed that the position was paying a certain amount. I agreed to pay rate, interviewed and was offered the position. But the pay offered was lower than what was agreed at in the beginning. I had to negotiate and that got approved. I came to find out that I was mislead of what was expected of me and the job duties in the job posting were completely not what I was doing in the position. A few days later, I declined the assignment because they also had rules of no restroom or drink breaks for the whole shift which I was not made aware of in the interview process. A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME!
scott
I went through their listing and applied to a few jobs. I interviewed for a couple and landed a pretty good one. I was happy with the whOle thing.
Natalie
They helped me find a good job, so I liked them. There were some hiccups with pay, but that was fixed pretty quickly.
Ben Pavi
They through me under the bus after one problem came up. No support, would not recommend.
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