'What are the benefits of hiring someone on a Temporary contract before offering them a Permanent role?: Clients'

Clients benefit from a candidate looking to move from temp to perm; it's a good chance to see a candidate on the job without having to initially commit. They can see how they fit into the team and the overall success of a project. There’s the added bonus of not paying a big upfront recruitment fee with the opportunity to persuade someone to go permanent once they have settled in. Some of our placements who began on temporary contracts have turned in to, not just permanent roles, but long term careers.

To place a freelancer is quick and easy which means they can start impacting the client’s business straightaway. Temps are ideal for unpredictable workloads, giving a certain flexibility for a client and, with a more predictable workload, they could convert them to a permanent role.

It also means you can give an opportunity to someone without the risk who may not, on paper, be the perfect fit for the role but who may have a winning personality and a great portfolio of skills. Freelancing can widen the net enabling clients to try different people without the pressure of committing to long term placements.

'What are the benefits of hiring someone on a Temporary contract before offering them a Permanent role?: Candidate.'

A few weeks ago I spoke about the benefits to clients, but moving from temp to perm can be beneficial to candidates too.

Due to the flexibility that temping offers, you can build on your experience and try different areas of the industry, multiple companies and varying projects. Essentially you can ‘try before you buy’; a chance to see how a company functions, the environment and what the culture is like. It might be a great company but it may not be the right fit for you.

One of the main reasons people want to move to a permanent position is the stability and security it provides. Maybe your circumstances have changed and you need regular income with company benefits.

Clients are more willing to try someone who may not be the perfect fit for the role and temping gives them a chance to see you in action. You can really prove yourself by showing first hand your work ethic and knowledge before negotiating a permanent salary which sometimes can result in a better offer.

On a final note, there is something to be said for being paid weekly as a freelancer before transferring to a permanent position – you can save up money before having to commit to a monthly paid placement.

Overall candidates can reap great rewards from starting out as a temp and using it as a springboard into a more stable position in a company you enjoy, whilst adding bundles of experience to your CV.