Hiring interim talent has become more prevalent across the recruitment landscape in recent months. There are a wide range of reasons a business might opt to bring in an interim employee, ranging from plugging a gap during the hiring process for a new permanent team member to bringing in extra skills needed for a transformation project.

When it comes to implementing large-scale projects, organisations are increasingly finding themselves with a need to make multiple hires quickly to keep initiatives moving swiftly and ensure that employers can take advantage of opportunities that arise.

Whether interim talent is hired through a recruitment agency or on a short-term or project-based contract, interim employees can be extremely valuable, helping to close skills gaps that hold businesses back.

Interim employees often bring new perspectives ad skills that can benefit both the business and its employees, but looking beyond that, here are five reasons you might want to build interim talent into your people strategy.

Explore temp recruitment

Why interim employees are your secret weapon

1. Flexing your workforce

Having an interim talent strategy gives businesses the ability to handle both predicted and unforeseen shifts in resource requirements more smoothly, transforming the workforce in a fast and efficient way.  

Having the ability to bring in interim employees can be extremely beneficial, especially if you work on a contract or project basis. Being able to increase capacity quickly means that you can confidently pitch for new work, knowing that you will be able to fulfil the requirements.  

Alternatively, if you work in a sector driven by seasonal demand such as finance or manufacturing, working with interim employees can allow you to flex your workforce up and down, so you are never paying for resource that you do not need.  

2. Faster hiring processes

When you have a well-established network, interim employees are usually available within a few days, avoiding long notice periods or interview processes. At Michael Page, we have a pool of candidates ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, with our typical time to hire sitting at an average of just seven days from CV sent to hiring.  

Seasoned temporary workers will usually be able to hit the ground running as soon as they have been on-boarded, which means your organisation can operate with minimal disruption and get the ball rolling on new projects without delay.

3. Cover whilst recruiting

Interim employees can provide organisations with additional support for a wide range of resourcing gaps, including providing cover while recruiting or during a long or short-term absence.

When a colleague moves on, sometimes the remaining team shoulders the additional workload, which can hurt morale and satisfaction, leading to retention issues. Hiring an interim employee can minimise the strain on the rest of the team, allow the business to continue to operate at optimal efficiency, and ensure that the permanent hire does not have to play catch-up the second they join or return.

Read more on the impact of overworked employees and discover tips for motivating your staff to maintain a happy and productive workplace.

4. Upskilling the workforce

While interim employees are often hired to provide additional support for a specific time-period or project, they can also bring new and valuable skills to your organisation. They can be particularly helpful when the organisation is working on a new type of project or undergoing transformation where the skills required may not already be present in the company.

By sharing their skills with others, interim employees can help to upskill the existing workforce or suggest new and more productive ways of doing things that benefits the company in the long-term, as well as for the duration of their contract.

5. Trialling expertise

Hiring an interim employee is lower risk than a permanent employee, and it can sometimes be the right choice if you are looking to hire for a new role or to see how a person will fit within the organisation, as it does not come with the same cost or time commitments.

Temp-to-perm roles are increasingly common, allowing organisations to bring in fresh skills without the same commitment of hiring someone permanent right off the bat. If you find a promising candidate, this can also provide an opportunity to assess where they might be able to deliver the best value to the company if they have a transferable skillset.

Why should you hire interim employees through Michael Page?

While some interim employees can be employed through their own businesses, others can be employed through umbrella companies and recruitment agencies. As a global agency, we have a wide network of highly skilled interim talent on call, who we can place in your organisation when you need them most.

We manage the entire process and supply the most suitable candidate to meet your requirements. We also take on the responsibility for paying interim employees throughout their placement, ensuring you have the talent you need with none of the risk of hiring new employees directly. If you are interested in having a conversation about your interim talent needs, request a call back and we will be in touch.

Enquire about temp recruitment

Join over 80,000 readers!
Receive free advice to help give you a competitive edge in your career.