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Is your company considering an interim manager for its next project?
Call it an after-effect of the pandemic or a reaction to increasing economic uncertainty, but one thing’s clear: many businesses are favoring interim over hiring full-time staff.
This isn’t just anecdotal. Recent Michael Page data is supported by LinkedIn’s Future of Recruiting Report, which shows listings for interim jobs jumping 26% from 2021 to 2022.
Still, despite the growing popularity of interim, you might be unsure if it’s the right choice for your company or be searching for clarity over which roles are better served by a temporary contract.
Join us as we explore the pros and cons of interim, shed light on the most sought-after profiles in the Netherlands, and reveal how to find the perfect interim professionals for your next project.
Why So Many Businesses Are Now Contracting
Companies can benefit greatly from hiring interim professionals rather than full-time employees.
- Flexibility and Short-Term Scalability
Interim is an ideal solution when you experience a sudden spike in workload or require expertise for a project but don't require that specific profile on a long-term basis.
- Streamlined Recruitment
Compared to the lengthy process of hiring full-time employees, interim is refreshingly straightforward. It allows you to focus on evaluating the interim manager’s abilities and experience, without the added complexities of having to consider their potential for growth within your company.
Partnering with a recruitment agency can further simplify the process and relieve you of administrative hassles.
- Operational Savings
Hiring remote interim managers helps you avoid overhead costs on office space and utilities, plus added expenses like retirement and healthcare benefits.
Despite interim managers typically commanding slightly higher hourly rates than permanent employees, their project-based nature often results in significant cost savings.
- Risk Management
Contractual agreements include performance metrics and timelines, helping you mitigate any risks associated with your project. If a interim manager fails to meet expectations, you can terminate the contract while bypassing the extensive paperwork associated with firing an employee.
- Leveraging Specialized Skills
Interim managers bring a wealth of experience distilled from the organizations they’ve worked at previously. By tapping into their expertise, you can access innovative solutions and fresh perspectives that might elude permanent employees.
Interim professionals’ diverse backgrounds often lead to creative ideas and problem-solving approaches that can drive your projects to new heights.
The Limitations of Interim
If you commit to interim, as well as all of the benefits listed above, you may have to navigate some challenges.
- Interim Management
Ensuring interim professionals align with project objectives, meet performance expectations, and seamlessly integrate into the team is crucial. This requires dedicated time and effort on your part.
- Hourly Rates
As mentioned above, interim managers often command slightly higher hourly rates than permanent employees. While their efficiency usually means they’re no more expensive than full-time staff, these rates can impact your overall project budget.
- Lack of Institutional Knowledge
Interim managers may not have the same level of commitment or in-depth understanding of your company's culture and processes as full-time employees.
- Short-Term Availability
Interim managers may not be available for extended periods, making it necessary to plan for transitions and potential knowledge gaps.
Contrary to some misconceptions, interim doesn’t imply a disposable workforce. You can build just as strong relationships with interim professionals as you can with full-time employees. Clear communication, well-defined expectations, and fostering an inclusive work environment can help ensure you overcome any challenges associated with contracting.
Experienced interim managers don’t need much help to get them up and running, they’re essentially plug-and-play. While their hourly or daily rate may seem high, their return on investment is frequently noteworthy.
Olaf Roos, Senior Executive Director
The Most Sought-After Tech Interim Roles in Europe
While the diverse nature of tech means there are a wide range of positions that companies are contracting for, here are five of the most popular interim roles in Europe.
Project Manager
Need somebody reliable to manage a specific IT project on a temporary basis? Invest in a Project Manager.
Contracted Project Managers usually bring high levels of expertise to the table, a vital requirement given the significant responsibilities of the role. These responsibilities can involve project planning, coordinating team efforts, budget management, risk assessment, ensuring timely project completion, and lots more.
Project Managers have a deep knowledge of project management methodologies and IT systems, enabling them to step into a project swiftly, assess the situation, and implement effective strategies. It's worth noting that if a Project Manager performs well on one project, you have the option to rehire them or offer them a full-time position.
Project Managers typically command competitive rates due to their specialized skills and the high demand for their services. Salaries can vary based on factors like experience and the complexity of projects managed, but in the Netherlands, typically range from €100 – €120 per hour.
Cybersecurity Consultant
IT Security or Cybersecurity professionals are highly skilled experts who can be brought in on a short-term contract to strengthen your organization’s digital defenses. They typically assess existing security measures, identify vulnerabilities, and implement robust cybersecurity strategies.
Cybersecurity consultants are quick to adapt to new environments, and due to the critical nature of their work, command competitive salaries. Rates can vary widely based on factors such as the complexity of the security tasks involved and the specific industry in which you’re based, but are usually in the ballpark of €90 – €120 per hour in the Netherlands.
IT Business Analyst
If you’re finding it hard to bridge the gap between your organization's IT capabilities and business objectives, you should consider hiring a Business Analyst. They’re able to quickly understand your business processes, gather requirements, and translate them into IT solutions.
Business Analysts are adept at grasping complex business environments, streamlining processes, and improving your company’s efficiency. They facilitate communication between business stakeholders and IT professionals, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Compensation for contracted IT Business Analysts is generally competitive, reflecting their specialized skill set and the strategic importance of their role. In the Netherlands you can expect to pay around €80 – €100 per hour.
IT Manager/Digital Transformation Leader
If you’re looking to steer your organization through the digital age, an IT Manager or Digital Transformation Leader could be the catalyst you need. By blending IT expertise with strategic vision, these professionals oversee day-to-day IT operations and can spearhead transformative initiatives.
With a strong background in IT infrastructure and a keen understanding of emerging technologies, they’re well equipped to hit the ground running. Their responsibilities include developing a strategic overview, evaluating technology trends, implementing innovative solutions, managing IT teams, and aligning IT strategies with overall business goals.
These leaders are invaluable in today’s tech-driven world, bridging the gap between technology and business outcomes. Salaries for IT Managers/Digital Transformation Leaders vary based on experience but are generally competitive, reflecting the importance of their role. In the Netherlands, their compensation typically ranges from €100 to €135 an hour.
Data Scientist
In the era of big data, Data Scientists are the architects behind meaningful insights. These professionals often possess expertise in statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining. Their role revolves around collecting, analyzing, and interpreting complex data to help organizations make informed decisions.
Data Scientists excel in programming languages like Python and R. They work closely with stakeholders to understand business needs, design data-driven solutions, and communicate findings effectively. Their ability to uncover patterns and trends in vast datasets empowers businesses to optimize processes, enhance customer experiences, and forge ahead in the market.
Due to the critical nature of their work, Data Scientists command competitive salaries. In the Netherlands, Data Scientists who specialise in different programming languages are most in-demand and can expect to earn around €85 to €100 an hour.
How to Guarantee Interim Success
If you’re embarking on a new project or need to fill skill gaps, interim is the ideal strategic approach. It allows you to address all your needs without the long-term commitment associated with full-time hires.
If you’re new to interim, it’s important to understand that a successful engagement requires careful planning and execution. Here are some top tips to ensure your company achieves maximum success:
- Respect the Hiring Process
Conduct thorough interviews and technical assessments, with a strong focus on assessing proficiency in specific technologies and problem-solving abilities. Keep in mind that your goal is not only to gauge if candidates possess the necessary skills and experience for the role, but also to determine if they’re a good cultural fit for your company.
Before making any big decisions, be sure to verify references and perform background checks and compatibility assessments.
- Ensure Total Clarity
It's crucial to have a clear understanding of the project scope before you hire an interim manager. Establish transparent lines of communication with the interim manager from the outset — by defining project parameters upfront, you set a solid foundation for a successful partnership.
Once the hiring process is complete, hold regular check-ins and progress updates to ensure the project stays on track.
- Get the Contract Right
Again, there’s no room for ambiguity — make sure the contract covers all essential aspects of the engagement. A well-structured contract protects both parties and provides a legal framework for the project.
Include provisions related to payments, hours of work, project milestones, deliverables, deadlines, confidentiality clauses, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Provide Onboarding and Support
Give interim managers a smooth start with a full onboarding process. Whether on-site or remote, introduce the interim manager to the team and help demonstrate the organization’s culture.
Offer training and support and ensure the interim manager has access to everything they need to complete the project successfully — including relevant software, hardware, and data.
- Get Some Expert Help
Does this all sound like a lot of work? Remember, once you have the right interim manager in place, your project will quickly go from strength to strength.
To simplify the hiring process, consider leveraging the expertise of a recruitment agency. We at Michael Page provide access to a wider range of skilled candidates and can speed up the entire interim process.
A good recruitment agency can help you with everything from contracts and onboarding to check-ins and issue resolution.
Use your interim managers for all their worth — their diverse experience across different companies helps them review your processes with an open mind. Keep an open line of communication and make it clear what you expect from them on deliverables and performance: It’s a two-way street to mutual success.
Olaf Roos, Senior Executive Director
The Interim Specialists
Michael Page is your dedicated recruitment specialist, boasting an extensive database of highly skilled interim managers. With their wealth of experience and deep technical expertise, our temporary workers are flexible and swiftly adapt to your project's needs. We ensure complete cost control for your project, with daily or hourly billing, regular evaluations, and rigorous compliance control.
Not sure if interim is the right move for you? We’re happy to conduct a detailed analysis of your project requirements and present you with a tailored plan of action. Once you’ve decided on a candidate, we take care of the contract and provide all the necessary frameworks to get your project off to the best start.
