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The unemployment rate is at historic lows which is great news for the economy – but not such great news for small business owners who need help.
Low unemployment creates hiring challenges for all organizations, but particularly for small businesses.
Lots of small businesses (mine included) now use temporary employees to help bridge the gap.
Organizations hire temporary employees in an effort to manage their operations while continuing its hiring process.
Being a temporary employee can be advantageous for both the employee as well as the employer.
I had a friend who temped for years until she found an organization she wanted to work for and eventually got hired there.
Having said that, most temporary agencies have some sort of clause in their agreement about recruiting and hiring their employees.
Typically, employees can be hired either for a fee or after a waiting period.
Another approach to temporary workers can be one of many online freelance sites.
These sites help you find freelancers who can do a small project, a long project, or provide indefinite help.
Fiverr is an example of a great freelance site that is affordable and has thousands of hungry freelancers who can take on that project for your business.
I’ve used Fiverr countless times for small projects and can’t say enough about them, particularly for the price.
7 Advantages of Using Temporary Help
1. No Long Term Commitments
There are no long-term employment commitments when you hire through an agency or an online freelance site.
One advantage of hiring temporary employees is that they can be available when needed and let go without notice when a project is completed.
2. Lower Compensation Costs
Compensation costs can be much less with temporary workers.
Even though you typically pay a higher hourly rate through a temporary agency, you are not paying the other employee benefit costs that you would with a permanent employee.
Additionally, online freelance sites have thousands of workers who will do jobs for a cheaper price because they need the work.
Many of these workers have great skills and are simply trying to get their portfolios expanded.
This saves you money!
3. Test Drive Employees Before Commit to Hiring Them
Organizational culture is a very real thing and finding a great fit can be a challenge.
Anyone who has ever interviewed and hired employees understands that sometimes the employee that shows up is very different from the person (you thought) you interviewed.
Many organizations use temporary employees on a trial basis to “test” their ability to do the job, their work ethic and assess their compatibility with the organization.
4. Strong Work Ethic
Most temporary employees are motivated to make a good impression, have high productivity, and a good work ethic.
They know that they are under the microscope and want to impress the boss.
These workers typically go above and beyond in an effort to hopefully get a permanent position.
5. Choice of Employees
Temporary employment agencies, as well as online freelance sites, can offer different levels of skills to meet the needs of employer requests.
Both can provide resumes and work portfolios to show work history and skill set.
Freelances also have reviews by prior customers to help you prioritize job candidates.
6. Bridge The Gap In Work
We are all busy trying to get the day-to-day tasks completed.
Temporary employees can be used for special projects that are difficult to get complete when there are so many other competing priorities.
For instance, some businesses will outsource a website design project to a freelancer.
7. Flexibility in Scheduling
Temporary employees offer flexibility in scheduling because they can be used for a short project or indefinitely.
You have the option to hire by the job, by the day or hour.
For instance, if you simply need help doing some quick edits on your business blog, an online freelancer might be the most cost-effective way of getting that accomplished.
Other Tips For Hiring Temporary Workers
- Always ask to see a resume when looking for someone with the skill set you need to get the job done.
- Call prior employers and check references the same way you would when hiring any other employee.
- If you are bringing a temporary worker to your office, make sure the agency does a background check – especially if your organization deals with children.
- Most temporary agencies and online freelance sites test applicants, so ask to see test results to ensure their skills are strong enough to do the job.
- For best productivity results, make sure you can provide someone to orient, train, and be available to answer questions.
Everyone is excited that unemployment rates are low. That means we have a strong economy.
But for those of us who need help, online freelance sites and temporary employment agencies are a valuable resource.
Take the time to screen workers and you might be surprised at the talent you find for an affordable cost.