SPEAKER’S CORNER: Katherine Barcelona, Kelly Services – Explore the Free-agent Work-Style

By Sonny Palko
On December 3, Kelly Services’ Recruiter, Katherine Barcelona, briefed PSGCNJ on the emerging free-agent work-style and how job-seekers can benefit by considering it in addition—or as an alternative—to pursuing traditional employment relationships. Kelly Services defines free- agents as “independent and experienced professionals who move from project to project, location to location, enhancing their skills and knowledge with each assignment.”
Free-agent or “temp” work affords job-seekers more flexible work options than traditional work scenarios and often opens the door to other professional opportunities. Katherine stated that an increasing number of companies embrace contingent labor force alternatives today as an efficient means to employ highly educated and highly skilled workers. Because many companies utilize agencies like Kelly Services to secure their free agent workers, establishing a solid, honest relationship with a recruiter is key. After all, Katherine said, “the recruiter is responsible for selling you to the companies that contract with them.” It is important to make a good impression with your recruiter right from the start, provide all pertinent details relevant to your placement preferences, and continue to keep the lines of communications open. Katherine also stressed the need for patience as the “perfect job” is not always available right away.
In addition to providing specifics of the Kelly Services recruitment process (which can be viewed by visiting Katherine Barcelona’s presentation which is posted in PSGCNJ’s Video Vault), Katherine enthusiastically shared a very informative and detailed “Career Forward Guide” with invaluable information for any job-seeker which includes sections on networking, resume-building, interviewing techniques and understanding the candidate-recruiter relationship. She also shared two additional resources from Kelly Services relevant to the free agent work-style. These are attached for your review.
Browse current openings by visiting the Kelly Services website at www.KellyServices.com.
Katherine Barcelona, Recruiter, Strategic Accounts & Operations, Kelly Services, places talent for J&J operating companies including Ethicon, Neutrogena, Animas, Health Media, and J&J Consumer Companies among others and has served as dedicated contract recruiter for J&J’s World Headquarters. She has managed full life cycle talent acquisition from initial candidate sourcing, resume review, behavioral-based interview, background screenings and on-boarding logistics through placement and continued candidate engagement for diverse positions in fields such as technology, finance, law, engineering, government affairs, law, and healthcare compliance & privacy among others. Contact Katherine at katherine_barcelona@kellyservices.com