The Right Way to Hire Temp IT Workers

Hiring temporary workers (colloquially referred to as “temps”) for IT jobs is beneficial for a number of reasons. You can give your permanent staff a helping hand, you can test the waters before making a long-term hire, and you can fill in gaps left by employees when they take a long vacation or personal leave. It’s no wonder that the popularity of using temp employees is on the rise.

While temp employees can be extremely helpful, there’s a right way and a wrong way to hire them. Do it right, and you’ll enjoy the benefits we listed above. Do it wrong, and you’ll waste your precious time and resources on an employee that doesn’t bring any value to your company.

We’re here to help you hire temp workers the right way. Here are our best tips.

Get specific about your needs.

If you’re going to find the right temp for your IT job, you need to know what the job is. The clearer you can be in the job description and terms, the better. What position is the temp worker going to fill? What responsibilities will they have? How long should they expect to work for you, and what are you willing to pay? Most importantly: why do you want to hire a temp? Is it to fill a temporary vacancy or help with a specific project? Or are you looking to make a permanent hire but want to try someone in a temporary capacity first? This level of clarity will help you find the right person for the job.

Use an agency.

Using a staffing agency to find your IT temp worker will cut out a lot of additional steps for you. With an agency, you’re much more likely to find a highly-qualified candidate that has been prescreened based on their background, experience, and qualifications. Plus, using an agency that specializes in IT will benefit you further, as the agency will understand your needs well and be able to provide you with more qualified candidates. Finally, an agency can answer whatever questions you might have about hiring temp or contract workers, potentially saving you from costly mistakes.

Hire a culture fit.

Once you have your list narrowed down to a few qualified candidates, don’t assume that they would all be an equally great fit within your company. You still want to make sure that the temporary IT worker is a culture fit for your brand and staff. A good rule of thumb: hire a temp employee as if you were hiring a permanent employee. Even if their engagement with your company is limited, things will go much more smoothly if the temp shares your mission, values, and work practices.

Take the time to train and onboard.

While your temp probably won’t need as much training as your permanent staff, it will benefit everyone involved if you take at least a little time to familiarize them with the way your company works. It may take a little extra time upfront, but it will pay off in the long run, especially if you decide to hire them full-time.

Hiring a temp or contract IT worker can be a great thing for your company, but only if you do it right. Utilize the power of a staffing agency to find your ideal candidate, and you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect person to fill your temporary position.

EDI Staffing has over two decades of experience helping companies fill their open IT positions. Our people know the industry inside and out and can help you find exactly what you’re looking for, temporary or otherwise. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.