Why Hire an Interim?

There are many reasons why businesses find interim hires an attractive and valuable asset; from being particularly useful during periods of transition, such as a merger or acquisition, to the implementation of new technology or software, through to strategy development or loss of current staff. An interim can draw on their wealth of expertise and take responsibility for the project or changing strategy and deliver value-added solutions for their clients very quickly. Here, Amy Smith, Head of Interim Recruitment at Macmillan Davies discusses some of the key benefits of interim hires for businesses.

Is hiring interim staff better than permanent staff?

Both have their merits and uses to deliver the best return. Generally, hiring an interim does not serve as a replacement for a permanent member of staff. Interim candidates are generally engaged for a specific project or initiative, providing on-demand and as-needed support for business challenges and workload. They can also be used as a temporary measure to cover a leave of absence (parental leave, sickness etc.)

Hiring a permanent member of staff, can be an arduous task for a business. It requires a clear definition of the requirements and skills needed, as well as the experience and even the direction that the role will take. Often, a loss of staff can result in a crisis period, or more positively, offer the opportunity to restructure or change the role. This can involve a wider investigation into the deeper needs of the business, which can be time-consuming and complex.

While engaging an interim may not be the long-term solution, in the meantime, however, hiring an experienced interim who can take on the responsibilities of the lost staff member to enact results and drive success will be beneficial. It gives the business time to define what they require in the long run from a permanent hire whilst still ensuring the smooth running of the day-to-day work involved within the company. That said, this is not the only reason why hiring an interim can be the best solution for a business.

Benefits of hiring an interim

Cost-saving

Creating a dynamic mix of permanent employees and highly skilled interim professionals allows businesses the ability to increase or decrease staffing numbers based on current demands, giving you more control over labour costs – and morale. You can rapidly staff up or down in response to customer demand, while at the same time lightening the load for employees who may be stretched too thinly.

New and diverse perspectives

Interim professionals keep up to date on current best practice standards and are able to apply what they have learned from previous projects they have been working on. The views and decisions of permanent members of staff can be influenced by internal factors while interim professionals can provide a fresh perspective and new ideas.

Expertise

Typically, interims are highly experienced. It cannot be overstated how valuable this experience is, it is in an interim’s best interest to be as qualified as possible for any given project as their next contract could depend on the success of their last. Expertise, intelligence, and creative problem solving become the interim’s highest priority which they build on over the course of several years and even decades. This allows a business to tap into invaluable amounts of expertise and experience to aid them on a project that, dependent on experience, a newly hired permanent member of staff might not be able to provide.

Flexibility

As businesses battle for a competitive advantage, they need to be able to respond quickly and strategically. Interim professionals offer flexibility for businesses as they bring in the right skills, at the right time, and for as long as needed.

Quick to get started

Another key benefit of interim professionals is the hiring process and the speed at which they can hit the ground running. Instead of taking weeks and months, Macmillan Davies can provide interim professionals quickly, enabling the interim to get up to speed within days. As a result, businesses can see an impact, almost immediately, from their work.

How does Macmillan Davies’ approach to interim hires ensure success?

At Macmillan Davies, we focus solely on HR appointments which gives us an in depth understanding of our clients and the broader HR market. This means we can provide businesses with interims who are assessed based not only on their experience in the market, and in a variety of business scenarios, but most crucially, cultural fit. Our consultative approach to HR interim management services, means we can tailor solutions and provide the best workforce for our clients’ needs in order to add the most value.

If you are looking for an experienced and transformational interim, get in touch today to discuss your requirements.

Get in touch

Should you wish to have a confidential chat with Amy Smith to discuss the current HR market or your search for work/recruiting into your team, please contact her directly at asmith@mdhr.co.uk

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