An integral member of our Kona staffing team for nine years, Personnel Manager Caren Gomes has relocated to our Aiea office. The Hilo native began her journey with ALTRES back in 2007. We are excited to now have Caren as part of the Industrial division here on Oahu. Her extensive management experience and fine-tuned leadership and people skills make her an asset not only to those she works with but more importantly, to the clients we serve.
How did you find your way into a career in the staffing industry with ALTRES?
I actually began working with ALTRES on the business side. When I managed a rent-to-own company, I would contact ALTRES Staffing in Kona when I needed additional temporary administrative or general labor help. After 10 years on the job, I decided to take a couple of years off to raise my family. Once I felt I could return to work, the first place I went to was ALTRES. Not only did I have a solid relationship with them, but I was also familiar with the quality of work they provided. As it happened, there was an opening for an in-house personnel manager and they offered me the job.
What is your role at ALTRES? Describe a typical day on the job.
My primary responsibility is to ensure that I am providing a good fit between both employees and clients. In doing so, I spend time interviewing potential candidates, making hiring decisions, tracking daily staffing requests, and handling any employee or client matters that arise. For the most part, my day consists of going through our list of available and qualified employees and placing them on assignments that match their skill set.
What qualities or skills are essential to be a successful personnel manager?
To me, it’s 90 percent attitude and 10 percent aptitude. If you have the right attitude, you will certainly gain the aptitude needed to be successful in this profession. I believe that anyone can be good at what they do if they have the right attitude. On top of that, I think that having strong people skills and the ability to make sound decisions is an integral part of this role.
What is the most challenging and most rewarding thing about your job?
The most challenging part of the job right now is being in what we refer to as an “employee market.” Low unemployment means good employees are hard to come by, so we are constantly having to find new and unique ways to recruit qualified candidates. It’s a nonstop work-in-progress as we always aim to provide the very best.
The most rewarding part of my job is being able to not only provide our clients with great employees but also know that I’ve made a difference in our employees’ lives. Being able to help make a difference for both parties is gratifying and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do so.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Truffle fries, truffle pizza, and straight-up fried chicken.
Name three fun facts about yourself.
I’m a music lover at heart and a published songwriter. I have a passion for making a positive impact on other people’s lives by encouraging them to believe fully in their abilities and desires. Lastly, I’m finally learning my childhood and life-long dream of horsemanship—bonding with a horse, the sport and leisure of it, and developing a love for ranching.
Is your business in need of qualified workers? If so, please contact us to get one of our experienced team members, such as Caren, working for you today.
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An integral member of our Kona staffing team for nine years, Personnel Manager Caren Gomes has relocated to our Aiea office. The Hilo native began her journey with ALTRES back in 2007. We are excited to now have Caren as part of the Industrial division here on Oahu. Her extensive management experience and fine-tuned leadership and people skills make her an asset not only to those she works with but more importantly, to the clients we serve.
How did you find your way into a career in the staffing industry with ALTRES?
I actually began working with ALTRES on the business side. When I managed a rent-to-own company, I would contact ALTRES Staffing in Kona when I needed additional temporary administrative or general labor help. After 10 years on the job, I decided to take a couple of years off to raise my family. Once I felt I could return to work, the first place I went to was ALTRES. Not only did I have a solid relationship with them, but I was also familiar with the quality of work they provided. As it happened, there was an opening for an in-house personnel manager and they offered me the job.
What is your role at ALTRES? Describe a typical day on the job.
My primary responsibility is to ensure that I am providing a good fit between both employees and clients. In doing so, I spend time interviewing potential candidates, making hiring decisions, tracking daily staffing requests, and handling any employee or client matters that arise. For the most part, my day consists of going through our list of available and qualified employees and placing them on assignments that match their skill set.
What qualities or skills are essential to be a successful personnel manager?
To me, it’s 90 percent attitude and 10 percent aptitude. If you have the right attitude, you will certainly gain the aptitude needed to be successful in this profession. I believe that anyone can be good at what they do if they have the right attitude. On top of that, I think that having strong people skills and the ability to make sound decisions is an integral part of this role.
What is the most challenging and most rewarding thing about your job?
The most challenging part of the job right now is being in what we refer to as an “employee market.” Low unemployment means good employees are hard to come by, so we are constantly having to find new and unique ways to recruit qualified candidates. It’s a nonstop work-in-progress as we always aim to provide the very best.
The most rewarding part of my job is being able to not only provide our clients with great employees but also know that I’ve made a difference in our employees’ lives. Being able to help make a difference for both parties is gratifying and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do so.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Truffle fries, truffle pizza, and straight-up fried chicken.
Name three fun facts about yourself.
I’m a music lover at heart and a published songwriter. I have a passion for making a positive impact on other people’s lives by encouraging them to believe fully in their abilities and desires. Lastly, I’m finally learning my childhood and life-long dream of horsemanship—bonding with a horse, the sport and leisure of it, and developing a love for ranching.
Is your business in need of qualified workers? If so, please contact us to get one of our experienced team members, such as Caren, working for you today.
Sign up for our newsletter
Sign up for our monthly HIVE newsletter and get tips for finding a job, managing a business and advancing your career right in your inbox.