By: Express Employment Professionals
Temporary work is more than just a “temp” job. Many temps can be considered consultants who basically serve as highly skilled employees. They are not full-time employees of the company, so they can be a lot more economical to hire than someone new, and onboarding is easier because of their specialized skills.
According to The Muse these are other reasons why consultants get hired.
Extra Horsepower
Often, companies need additional staffing to help complete special projects and events or to cover for an employee who will be out of the office for an extended amount of time. Companies have to focus on daily operations yet may lack employees needed to focus on a special project or they may lack the resources for hiring new employees to fill gaps. Whether it’s a cost reduction program requiring a dedicated team of six for a year or even a post-merger integration that requires a team of 100 for a month, companies may struggle to get the teams in place to do this critical work.
Specialized Skills
Another, and perhaps the most common, reason companies hire consultants is to gain access to a specialized skill set that might not exist in house. By engaging a consultant, they get access to a group of professionals who use a wide range of skills based on industry and expertise. Companies realize to hire these specialized employees full time would not only be expensive, but the company might not have enough work to keep said employees year round. But, thanks to consultants, companies can bring in that skill set on demand when they need it.
Safe Zone
Sometimes, when companies are working on a challenging problem or a major project, it can be hard for them to make decisions or take the necessary actions without getting wrapped up in emotions or politics. So, they bring in consultants to provide an unbiased eye and relieve some of the stress.
Consultants support companies in a lot of ways—and as a consultant you get to dig into a lot of tough situations. It’s not always easy work, but for problem-solvers, it’s exciting work.