Hiring
Happens

Weekly thoughts on the latest trends in hiring, the labor market, and anything else that catches our eye from the Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL team

Hiring Happens

Our weekly thoughts on the latest trends in hiring, the labor market, and anything else that catches our eye.

Is Your Workplace Worth the Hype?

Because buzz wears off, but real value endures

One of us may or may not have recently purchased a $39, 16 oz jar of yogurt (yes, you read that correctly) after learning about its cult-like…

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Problem Hill or Fix-It-Road?

On hiring decisions, changing your mind, and knowing when to take the exit

The Brewers Are Doing It Wrong

On the Brewers, Howard Marks, and the cost of looking like everyone else

It’s Only A Point

What Roger Federer can teach us about getting hiring wrong

I Dissent!

Lessons from the Supreme Court and Superteams

Hold My Kolaches

What the worst sales pitch we ever heard taught us about hiring

Starting From Zero

On applications, imposter syndrome, and learning by doing

Who We Are

Meet the Authors

We’re a local team of problem-solvers, people-first thinkers, and staffing experts who believe hiring should feel more human — and a lot less transactional.

Austin Kassner

In his capacity as President & Owner of Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL, Austin is deeply involved in the regional hiring landscape. He offers an on-the-ground perspective into workforce dynamics, market pressures, and the evolving expectations of both employers and job seekers. Originally from Green Bay, Austin holds an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Natalie Walsh

A Madison native and proud University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni, Natalie joined the Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL team in 2020 as an onboarding specialist. In this role, she had the opportunity to see firsthand to how the right job can change someone’s life. Today, she drives marketing strategy to help more people find meaningful work and more businesses build strong teams.

About Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL

For more than 35 years, we’ve helped businesses solve hiring challenges, build stronger teams, and move work forward, combining the agility of a local partner with the resources of a national network.

For over three decades, we’ve built our reputation on long-standing partnerships and consistent results. Our consultative approach goes beyond transactions – we focus on the long-term success of our clients, our candidates, and the communities we serve.

Led by experienced senior leaders, our team blends deep local knowledge with proven recruiting expertise. Many of our staff have been with Spherion for years, building continuity, trust, and strong relationships that drive better hiring outcomes.
We take a customized approach to every search. Whether you’re filling high-volume roles, hiring for professional positions, or developing a workforce strategy, we align our solutions to your goals, delivering flexibility, speed, and quality.
We bring the responsiveness of a local partner plust he reach and capabilities of a national Spherion network and global partner through Randstad.
The right way, all the time. Our work is grounded in integrity, respect, passion, guided by our core mission:
DRIVE CAREERS. GROW BUSINESSES. BETTER THE COMMUNITIES WE CALL HOME.

We’ve built our reputation on long-standing partnerships, consistent results, and industry recognition. We’re proud to have 400+ Google reviews that speak to our work – see a few below:

Posted on Google Google
Ellen Khalifa profile picture
Ellen Khalifa
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The job I applied to wasn't a good fit, but after listening to me, Morgan Mack thought another would. I interviewed the next day, start work this week! Morgan sent links to interview, connect with Spherion, and information for the first day of work. Their office was easy to find for on-boarding, and Morgan was professional and charming in person. It's all good.
Posted on Google Google
Pedro Pacheco profile picture
Pedro Pacheco
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
This is one of the best agencies I have had the pleasure of applying for. They were professional from the very start. Usually you have to stay on top of angencies to get any type of update. But Spherion went the extra mile. While truing to secure me an interview they made sure to keep updated on where we were standing in the process. The level of professionalism is simply amazing. They truly have a top notch staff. Thank you for everything.
Posted on Google Google
Vivian Montes Peterson profile picture
Vivian Montes Peterson
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Ms. Morgan Mack has been such a great help throughout my hiring process! Anytime I’ve called she’s answered all my questions. Thank you for sending my offer letter so quickly when I requested. It helped me find a place to live faster than I thought ❤️
Posted on Google Google
kyra profile picture
kyra
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Kendal Thomason is an amazing recruiter, he’s fast with replying very knowledgeable in his work and great with communication. He most definitely deserves a raise!
Posted on Google Google
Kody Wright profile picture
Kody Wright
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Applied. Interviewed. Hired. All within a week. IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. Shoutout to my recruiter RaeAnn 🔥. If you don’t know…. Now you know.
Posted on Google Google
Krista Castillo profile picture
Krista Castillo
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I am happy to share what a pleasure it was to work with Mary Kerr Senior Onsite Recruiter at Spherion. She took the time to listen and understand what I was looking for in a new job. In just a coupe days, she found the right position for me, negotiated with the employer, and presented me with a job offer. She currently assisting me with the onboarding process. Finding a new job has never been so painless. I am thrilled with my experience and recommend Mary to anyone looking for a fresh start, a new challenge, or employment that will pay the bills.
Posted on Google Google
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ingrid malin
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Taylor was amazing to work with, even through ups and downs of a longer hiring process due to the acquisition of the target company. He responded quickly, provided all necessary information, answered all my questions, and was extremely kind. Very grateful for the people at Spherion!
Posted on Google Google
Xitlaly Gomez-Vega profile picture
Xitlaly Gomez-Vega
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had the pleasure of working with Taylor during my onboarding and recruiting process. He was very quick to respond to any questions I had and kept me informed every step of the way.
Posted on Google Google
Mya bray profile picture
Mya bray
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Best staffing company I ever worked with ! I worked with Morgan and she is the best very understanding and professional and patient as well . She communicate very well ! Walked me through everything follow up very helpful ! Morgan is definitely the best ! I enjoy working with her dearly even go as far as check up on me after I started the job just see how I was feeling i appreciate that so much because she actually cares and listen she don’t just throw you to the wolves

About Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL

Driving Careers. Growing Businesses. Bettering the Community.

We operate locally in Madison and Rockford, serving companies and job seekers across South Central Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Our team moves fast, thinks strategically, and cares deeply about getting hiring right.

Our backgrounds vary, but we’re united by a shared belief: hiring isn’t just about filling a position. It’s about building trust and helping organizations grow with the right people in place.

We bring together local insight and national reach, but what sets us apart is how closely we stay connected to the work. We spend time on-site. We listen. We adapt quickly. That kind of attention leads to stronger, more lasting results.
Whether you’re scaling a manufacturing operation, staffing a biotech lab, or hiring for a critical professional role, we become an extension of your team.

We’re in it every day, talking to candidates, working with hiring managers, and staying sharp on what’s changing in the market. This site is a space to share what we’re seeing and how we’re thinking about it.

Get In Touch

Contact Us

We work with companies across Wisconsin and Illinois to solve hiring challenges, build strong teams, and move work forward. Fill out the form below, and a member of our team will be in touch soon. We’d love to get the conversation started and hear what you’re working on

Madison Office

2601 W Beltline Hwy, Suite 500 Madison, WI 53713

Rockford Office

735 N Perryville Rd, Suite 3 Rockford, IL 61107