These days, you may not have to talk candidates into taking contract assignments because more candidates are actually seeking out contract work. But if you do encounter a candidate who is reluctant to consider contract staffing services, you may want to point them to a column titled “Why Temporary Work is Worth It” in Forbes.
According to the column by Kerry Hannon, more than a third of American companies are operating with smaller staffs than before the recession. No surprise there. But what might surprise your candidates is that 36& of companies plan to hire contract/temp workers this year, and a third of those plan to hire before April. For candidates who have been out of work for a long time, this represents a whole new crop of job opportunities . . . if they are willing to think outside the normal direct-hire box.
The column gives candidates plenty of reasons to consider contract staffing:
- Try different careers, industries, and companies.
- If a candidate is unemployed, contract staffing gives them something to do, which builds confidence.
- Contract work may eventually lead to a direct-hire position (temp-to-direct).
- Make good money. Hannon says many companies pay generously for contractors because they can solve a problem quickly without the usual “hand-holding and learning curve.”
- Build a professional network.
- Get new references.
- “Keep resume alive.” Contract work can fill the gaps in a candidate’s resume in between direct-hire jobs.
- Keep skills current.
- Get excited about a project without long-term expectations. Hannon points out that knowing the job is temporary “can be tremendously freeing.”
