Hiring and onboarding contingency workers, such as independent consultants or contractors, requires a different approach than hiring permanent FTEs. To ensure these professionals integrate efficiently and effectively into your organization, follow our step-by-step guide:
1. Identify the Need
- Clearly define the purpose: Why do you need a contingency worker? Is it for a specific project, an interim or fractional role, or to bring in specialized skills and experience?
- Outline desired outputs: Specify the outcomes you expect from this engagement.
2. Screening and Selection
- Thorough vetting: SeasonedPros screens all potential candidates and provides you with 2-4 vetted professionals who align with your defined needs.
- Interview for fit: Conduct interviews to validate skills and experience. Crucially, ensure a cultural fit, as this is key to a successful engagement.
3. Contract and Compensation
- Agree on terms: The client and candidate must agree on employment terms, including hourly rates, project fees, or salaries, and payment schedules.
- Draft a formal contract: Create a contract outlining the scope of work, deliverables, deadlines, payment terms, confidentiality agreements, and termination clauses.
4. Onboarding Process
- Prepare onboarding materials: Develop a package that includes company policies, project details, necessary training materials, and access to the tools, software, and systems needed to perform their tasks.
- Assign a point of contact: Designate a team member as the main contact for the contingency worker. This person will assist with onboarding, provide guidance, and help familiarize the worker with the company culture, team structure, and their role in the project.
5. Managing the Engagement
- Monitor progress: Regularly track the worker’s progress against agreed-upon milestones and deadlines.
- Conduct performance reviews: Evaluate performance at key project stages to ensure expectations are being met.
6. End of Contract
- Offboarding: Conduct a thorough offboarding process, including returning company property, revoking access to systems, and finalizing payments.
- Knowledge transfer: Ensure necessary knowledge transfer occurs before the worker leaves, especially if their work is integral to ongoing projects.
By following these steps, you can effectively hire and onboard contingency workers, ensuring they contribute positively to your organization and projects.
SeasonedPros offers fast access to a network of business professionals ready to tackle complex challenges and drive organizational growth. Resource expertise faster with on demand talent for fractional, interim or project roles. Reach out today to learn how we can help: