LIHUE — Scott Lever likes being in the middle.
As the staffing manager for Hawaii Employment’s Lihue office, he helps two sides: employers who need workers, and people who need work.
“I like helping employers who have a need for specific talents. I like finding those workers and making the right match,” he said. “The employer gets someone to fill a need and a person gets a job.”
Hawaii Employment opened an office in Lihue in August, with plans to meet a growing need for its services and plans to expand its offerings, as well.
It can provide staffing for three situations: temporary, temporary to permanent and permanent.
It is part of the Hawaii Group, a Honolulu-based company that also provides services in human resources, accounting, health care and marketing.
“We’re going to build toward offering all of these services from this office,” Lever said.
For now, though, Hawaii Employment is busy enough providing workers for businesses. For instance, it has about 100 employees working for agriculture companies on Kauai. It also provides workers for construction, hospitality and rental cars, pretty much any field labor is needed. Or say a company is looking for a CEO. HiEmployment may be able to help.
If a customer likes an employee, they may hire them on a full-time basis.
Companies may not want to hire more employees, but need workers. For instance, a hotel might need bartenders for a special event. HiEmployment might have just the right people with the necessary skills to step in.
“When the call comes, we may be able to supply the talent on a daily notice,” he said.
Lever likes being able to put people to work who are between jobs, new to the island, early in their career or who have fallen on tough times and need a second job.
When that match is made between worker and company, Lever smiles.
“They’re working. That’s what I like,” he said.
Lever has 18 years experience as an executive recruiter on the Mainland. He worked five years in the car rental business before joining Hawaii Employment. He guides the Lihue office, 2970 Kele St., Ste. 213, and is joined by Shen Balmidiano, also a staffing manager, who focuses on the west side of Kauai.
He believes HiEmployment will do well.
“The commitment on part of management to make this go is really fun,” he said.
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