Why book an expensive long-term Temp? Case Study Blog

This is a Blog based on a client of ours & the actual situation. I think it demonstrates well another aspect of recruiting & why employers book & sometimes need temporary cover.

Most employers think booking a Temp is a desperate, short term & expensive act & to be fair, in many circumstances they’re right. Examples: your receptionist is off sick & the Front of House cover is essential. Accounts are swamped & Payroll cannot be left or maybe the workload is just so short term busy, another body on board is all that you need. All of these are usual ‘I need a Temp’ calls but back in January I got something different & looking back, the booking has been a real help to the client & his Team. And of course, the candidate.

So, the basics. Maternity cover needed + some changing of jobs & new roles being learned meant that when I got the call this client wanted a 3-month temp not only to ‘tide them over’ but to possibly settle & go permanent at the end of the booking. But he needed someone in (genuinely) 3 days & wanted to interview.

(Worth stating here that I’m happy to let my clients interview Temps. No skin off my nose. A lot of recruiters don’t encourage it. I’d ask why not?)

So fast forward 3 months & we had a great candidate in. He’s done well & he’s fulfilled the booking & he’s gone onto pastures new & we’ve all said goodbye & it’s done the business the world of good. So…..it’s an expensive temp. Why? How?

Essentially & initially all it looked like the temp was needed for was smooth out the lumps & bumps of a panic busy period. He assimilated well & did jobs that were time consuming & possibly always left till last & that helped things along with the staff incumbent.

But what he also (unexpectedly) did was buy time for the Sales Director to look at what skills were already in the Dept. & what needed to be brought in & as a result at the at the end of the 3 months the jobs he THOUGHT he’d need covering – didn’t. Finally watching the Team & having a candidate move between a few roles as directed, helped identify the strengths & weaknesses in the team thus pointed to needing roles / skills he wouldn’t have recruited for 3 months previously. It bought him time to reach different conclusions he never assumed he’d reach & he realises now if he’d taken someone on permanently in January, he’d have grabbed someone & most likely, made a mistake. The temp genuinely helped the timescales come down from a frantic recruit that may have gone wrong, to a measured decision that will be best for all parties.

And so, as a result we’ve just filled 2 permanent jobs there.

The Temp learned loads & has gone off to a new challenge with a great reference & a set of enhanced skills & the client is scrutinising even more skill gaps & where we all go from here.

Lovely stuff.

I’m Roseanne Stockton & I successfully run Nu-Recruit Career Consultants – I place permanent & temporary candidates of the very best quality into great local employers & jobs in Liverpool, Chester & Wirral. In a no-fuss, no-nonsense way.

And I love what I do.

Call me if you think my experience will help you get the best candidate for your job! And please feel free comment on my Blog…..