When properly hired, temporary employees can be an amazing addition to your workforce. These professionals can step in to assist your team when you need an extra hand, without any commitment to keep them on staff when they’re no longer needed. Instead of having work slip through the cracks or requiring your core team to put in an exorbitant amount of overtime, they simply fill the gaps on an as-needed basis.
Of course, contingent workers still need to be properly vetted, as they’re doing work on behalf of your company — if even for a short time. Limit risk by following these four guidelines when hiring temporary staffers.
Conduct Background Checks
You wouldn’t think of hiring a full-time staffer without conducting a background check, so the same due diligence needs to be taken with contingent employees. If you’re working with a staffing firm, they should handle this for you, but make sure their process meets your standards by finding out exactly what their screening efforts entail. Decide what information is important to your company and don’t make any hiring decisions until all the boxes have been checked.
Post Updated Job Descriptions
A job title may stay the same for years, but the responsibilities associated with the position probably change more frequently than you realize. Make sure you’re probably representing the job by writing a new description each time it’s posted. This serves the dual-purpose of ensuring candidates understand exactly what the job entails and helps make sure you’re hiring someone with the skills needed to succeed.
Focus on Cultural Fit
It’s true that contingent workers will only be at your company for a limited time, but you still need someone who will thrive in your work environment. If temporary employees don’t mesh with the rest of your staff, the entire team is thrown off-balance, majorly limiting productivity. Plus, if a contract staffer is terribly unhappy, they may quit before the end of their expected employment date, which will put you right back in the same place as when you started.
Build a Relationship With Your Recruiter
To provide the best-fit candidates, top recruiters want to learn as much as possible about their clients. Take every opportunity you can to immerse your recruiter in your company culture and help them learn more about what you need in the right temporary workers. Increase your chances of finding candidates that meet all your requirements by inviting your staffing partner to spend a day at your company and taking the time to thoroughly explain each position you’re trying to fill.
ECS is here to help manage your contingent workforce, so you have more time and energy to focus on running your business. Contact us today to learn more about the services we offer to companies of all sizes, in a variety of industries.