Arrowhead Talent Services ‘help people find their place in the world of work’

After a long and successful career in human resources in Stark County, Clark Harvey left the field to work for his sister and brother-in-law’s charitable foundation in Columbus.

But Harvey’s reputation for expertise and integrity followed him. Employers and companies continued to seek his advice for recruiting and hiring new employees.

It led to him starting his own company, Arrowhead Talent Services.

“The easiest way to describe what we do is, we do recruiting services for businesses,” he said. “We help companies find talent for their jobs.”

Harvey has worked for some of the area’s major employers, including the Timken Co., Diebold Nixdorf, Walsh University and Kenan Advantage Group.

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Harvey said the current job market is “a buyer’s market,” meaning that people seeking jobs have the advantage, noting that the equation has resulted in growth for his company.

“All our clients are in the same position. They’re in charge,” he said of job candidates.

Harvey said the demand for people in technology is extremely high.

Engineering is another hot job market, chief recruiter Andrew Farber said.

Harvey and Farber said the job market still is experiencing the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It gave people an opportunity to re-evaluate what’s important in life,” Farber said.

Harvey said Arrowhead Talent Solutions treats job openings as a marketing concept, which utilizes social media to fill jobs all over the world.

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“And lots of Northeast Ohio clients,” Farber said.

Harvey said they also will recruit and market jobs on college campuses if a client is open to hiring entry-level employees. He said some companies, such as the Timken Co., do a good job in hiring such people by way of internships.

Harvey noted that they recently added their own intern to handle their marketing.

“Other places just don’t have the infrastructure to do that, but some companies are starting to become aware of the talent available at the entry level,” he said.

Harvey and Farber offered the following advice for people entering the workforce for the first time:

“So much of what you do is judged,” Farber said. “Put your best foot forward. Be professional in your approach. Employers want to know they can put you in front of a client.”

Farber said the same thing goes for employers, who should be transparent about a prospective employee’s job responsibilities and pay.

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“It’s a duality,” he said. “You have to look at it as a two-way street.”

Harvey and Farber are millennials, the generation currently at the center of conversations about the job market. Though some millennials have been criticized for excessive and unreasonable demands, Harvey said they haven’t seen a large number of such job seekers.

“We see some folks who have a little bit of unreasonable demands and expectations,” Harvey said. “I don’t think it’s out of malice or arrogance. It’s probably based on what they’re being told by family or friends. Entry-level employees have to be a little more flexible. You need that, to learn.”

Farber said the growing trend of working from home isn’t always ideal for entry-level jobs.

“Employers like having entry-level people in the office,” he said, “where you can better train and control new employees.”

Harvey said working from home is a recurring theme when he talks with employers.

“The hybrid might be the sweet spot in the future,” he said.

Arrowhead’s headquarters is located in a converted barn not far from where Harvey and Farber live. Prior to that, they too worked from home, and still do on occasion.

Farber said employees seeking a better work-life balance have become a driving factor for the hybrid model.

“You have to be flexible as an employer,” he said. “It’s a testament to the advances in technology.”

Harvey said the hybrid model is likely the next logical step in employment.

“Employers are going to need to embrace that to attract employees,” he said.

Prior to joining Arrowhead Talent Solutions, Farber worked for 11 years as an environmental science consultant. He also worked as manager of the Stark County stormwater system.

“I had experience in management that allowed me to help others flourish,” he said.

But because it also resulted in increased time away from his young family, Farber left the field at the outset of the pandemic to be a stay-at-home dad. His wife is a nurse.

When Harvey found himself buried in work, his wife recommended he reach out to Farber, her cousin.

“He’s been a perfect fit,” Harvey said. “Andrew took to it like a fish in water.”

Harvey said the company’s name is a metaphor.

“The industry is very cutthroat, very competitive,” he said. “We think it’s a huge responsibility to guide people in their career. We do recruiting and research that hit the mark.”

The company’s goal, Harvey said, can be found in its mission statement:

“Our mission is to help people find their place in the world of work.”

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Arrowhead Talent Services help people find the right career fit