Contract workers become central to employer hiring strategies

Figures from the 2016 Job’s Outlook Report by The Recruitment & Employment Confederation also showed that 94% of employers have no spare workforce capacity. For this reason, if demand were to increase suddenly, employers would be required to find additional resources very quickly. Therefore, it is important that businesses are constantly aware of any recruitment needs and requirements that may arise to ensure they are prepared to begin the recruitment process at short notice. The time scale of hiring an interim or fixed term contractor can be reduced by:

1. Think long-term:

   Economies will inevitably fluctuate but waiting for the ups before deciding to recruit will lead to disappointment. The 2016 Jobs Outlook Survey reported that 13% of employers anticipate skills shortages for this quarter. Therefore, planning ahead is essential as competition for available workers with specific skill sets is fierce.

2. Keep the interview process fast and effective.

   If you need to hire quickly, interim candidates can usually be acquired in less than 48 hours. Telephone or video call interviews can be used to keep the interview process as fast and efficient as possible. Finally, making a quick decision on the successful individual will ensure that the candidate maintains their focus and enthusiasm for the role. Remember that the process needs to be a much faster turnaround than for a permanent role.

3. Don’t waste time on CV’s that you’re not sure about.

   If you want to hire an interim manager, you have to act decisively. If your selection process is taking too long, you could be missing out on the best candidates who have already been assigned to another business. Be harsh and follow your instincts, only interview the ones you genuinely feel have potential.

4. Outsource your recruitment to a specialist contract consultancy.

   They will understand the requirements of the role and have a database of fully referenced and available interim candidates with the skill set you’re looking for. Leave the recruitment process to those with the expertise and market knowledge of the sector that your HR team may not necessarily possess.

You might not be looking to hire at this moment, but that's no reason not to get the groundwork under way. Follow the steps above and when the time comes you'll already have a plan in place to land the best managers and executives. To find out more about hiring contract and interim managers click here, or contact one of our experts on 0161 825 0825.