Frank’s Employment, Inc., a name familiar both to job-seekers and suburban employers searching for qualified candidates, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Certainly that’s a noteworthy enough milestone for any business, but what really makes the Frank’s story, and its half-century in operation, worth more than an anniversary notice is 87-year-old founder Ruby Frank, a one-time homemaker who broke through a gender barrier and started her own business in an era when women were doing little of that.

“In the 1950s, women generally did not work outside the home,” she recalled. “But once their children were in school, many began looking for ways to get out of the house and make some extra money. It was the beginning of a cultural change in America.”

When she moved to the Fox Valley in the mid-1950s after nine years as executive secretary to the president of a large company, Ruby was called by some other firms asking if she would sub for people on vacation.

“I said ‘No, but I will find someone for you,’” Ruby said. “I started recruiting the stay-at-home mothers.”

Those referrals led to the start of Frank’s Employment in 1957, and the rest, as it’s said, is history.

Her son, Craig, who took over as president of the firm when Ruby retired four years ago at the age of 83, reflected on the company’s early years when his mother operated the company out of their home.

“She received calls at suppertime from customers,” he said. “She would get out her little black book and begin referring people.”

Personal relationships with potential employees and employers have contributed to the success of Frank’s Employment. Since Frank moved into the leadership role, he has grown to respect even more the efforts his mother put forth in building a solid reputation.

To that end, one of the hallmarks of Frank’s is service with a personal touch.

“People who come here seeking a job are not turned into numbers,” Craig Frank said.

Each individual in quest of a new job position is interviewed by one of the counselors and an extensive file is being created for all other counselors to view and help place into a job. The counselors are not in competition with one another; rather they work together and share documented information to provide the best candidate for the position to their client company.

There is no obligation on the job-seekers’ part nor are there fees or contracts.

Frank points out that companies have personalities just as individuals do, and therefore finding the perfect match for both is where his counselors’ years of expertise come into play.

Frank’s Employment offers temporary and permanent job placement to its clients. The counselors lend a hand in helping to develop resumes that will attract attention, in addition to providing encouragement and presenting tips on interviewing.

“We help people if they want help or need help because we know everyone who comes here hates looking for a job,” Craig said. “We try to get people a job but we also know we can’t find a place for everyone who walks in.”

To ensure the right fit, all candidates are brought into the offices of Frank’s Employment and take part in various tests to ascertain their skills. A background check is performed and references are called before a person is eligible to be placed in one of the small or medium size businesses Frank’s deals with.

For many years the business ran with voluminous paper files and no computer system. Once Craig Frank introduced computers, it seemed to take even more time than to write down the information and file it away. But as the time went by, he found programs that helped him organize both his business and applicant files.

“When my mother ran the business she would only have her little black book but now we are dealing with thousands of people and have more extensive files to worry about,” Frank said.

About 30 years ago, the building where Frank’s Employment originated burned to the ground, leaving Ruby with no records. However, because of her rapport with all of her clients she was able to pick up the pieces fairly quickly. She was also fortunate to work with honest businesses that sent her checks for positions she had filled within their companies.

In 1980, Frank’s Employment moved to the Arcada Theater Building, 12 S. First Ave. in St. Charles, where it remains.

The firm has jumped enthusiastically on the high-tech bandwagon and uses the Internet to further business and make it easier for people searching for people or positions. Frank said that with most people hunting for a job online, he arranged his firm’s listings so candidates can view all of them.

“We enjoy our reputation as we have been around so long people have heard our name once or twice before,” he said. “We are a word of mouth company and we don’t try to overextend ourselves. We generally deal with people in the western suburbs, which helps facilitate the personal interview.”

Because of the wide scope of the Internet, Frank said his coverage area has moved beyond the Fox Valley and the western suburbs to other communities in Illinois. To maintain the personal aspect of the service Frank’s offers, counselors may now travel to certain areas to begin the interview process.

Frank said he would reach out as necessary to assist an applicant; for example, if someone from Joliet were looking for a job around Naperville and couldn’t commute to St. Charles, a counselor would drive to that perspective client and begin the interview process.

He knows that technology is going to change the types of jobs being offered over the next 10 to 20 years and beyond.

But he is sure of one thing: “The personalized service that has made us will remain as it is the core of who we are.”

Quick Facts

Frank’s Employment, Inc.
12 S. First Ave.
Suite F
St. Charles 60174
Phone: 630-584-0820
Fax: 630-584-3081

Web site: www.franksemployment.com
President: Craig Frank

Employees: 8