8 Benefits of Hiring Contractors – Life Sciences

We’ve been supporting various businesses with our contract recruitment solutions since 2006, so we understand first-hand the advantages of hiring contractors. Many companies see the benefits of hiring contractors as a temporary solution until a permanent hire is found, helping to bridge shortfalls in staff numbers or project needs. 

However, it is important to understand that taking on contractors in the right circumstances has both long-term and short-term advantages. 

When is the right time to hire a contractor?

Contractors tend to specialise in specific skill sets and are renowned for their flexibility and ability to work remotely. Interim workers can create an ideal solution where an organisation has a critical business need but limited time or resources available. 

There are numerous scenarios where it makes sense to consider hiring contract staff: 

Contract staff are accustomed to working remotely and hitting the ground running, so can be the ideal solution to fulfil a business need with minimal onboarding requirements. 

Due to their experience, contractors require little or no induction, resources, or training to seamlessly transition into the role. Experience of working remotely means that their communication via digital means is typically advanced and they have all they need set up already to begin work. This means you can maximise their output immediately. 

The breadth of experience contractors will have around project timelines means that they are adept at prioritising tasks, managing expectations, and working to deadlines. The very nature of contractors means that they can be utilised for short-term projects without employers having to commit to permanent employment. 

Freelancers or contractors can be a perfect solution when seeking someone with in-depth, specialist knowledge. 

During busy periods with an increased workload, contract workers can alleviate a short-term skills or resource gap. Hiring a contractor can also fulfil a skills shortage temporarily, whilst you continue to recruit for a permanent position. 

Large-scale development projects can be very resource-intensive, demanding the temporary input of professionals with targeted technology expertise to implement fundamental changes to your business. Senior technology specialists are a great option to oversee these large and often complex projects. 

Contract workers provide invaluable contingency in the instances where there are time gaps between employees leaving or starting at your business. For example, where a new permanent hire has a six-month notice period, an interim manager could be a recommended option to temporarily fulfil a role during this time. 

Changes in legislation could mean that you require resources to join the team quickly to help successfully adjust to performing under new legal frameworks. 

What are the advantages of hiring a contractor?

Contractors are specialists in their field due to the variety of businesses and environments that they have worked in. This means they can offer unique insights and solutions to existing company problems or new projects and have a very consultative approach to problems. 

Contract workers can also help to avert internal company bias and facilitate conflicting perceptions to help direct the business in the most effective way possible. Their fresh perspectives can generate innovative ideas and help to implement required changes. 

Contractors are a cost-effective resource, so outsourcing is a great way of saving money in comparison to taking on permanent employees. They are typically only compensated only for the number of hours they put into a project, and often have their own equipment to conduct tasks. This reduces financial pressures and frees up cash flow.  

Contractors offer the advantage of flexible working hours and willingness to accommodate inevitable changes during their contract. This is something that can only be achieved through contract staff. They can be productive immediately and hit the ground running, granting businesses greater efficiency, and eliminating the time and additional costs of training new staff.  

Rather than having to commit to the long-term requirements of permanent employees, contractors give businesses the flexibility to assess changes in the market and respond accordingly. In practice, businesses can expand whilst contracting their workforce as needed with reduced commitments.  

Contractors offer a quick-fix solution to regular employee absences which can impact business productivity and team motivation. 

Whether it is maternity leave, sick leave, or peak season annual leave, contractors can be extremely helpful short-term solutions, eliminating the need to take on new and costly permanent employees by bridging shortages in internal skills and headcount gaps.  

Searching for the best quality permanent staff in the market can take some time to complete, with the period between the interview and offer stage often taking several weeks. 

The notice period for middle to senior-level professionals also needs to be taken into consideration, as this can be 3 or even 6 months, and without careful planning business-critical work can be delayed.  

Contractors relieve time pressures for hiring managers and help to minimise panic-hiring. 

Typically a contractor can start within a week or two and the recruitment process should be much quicker too. This means gaps can be filled quickly, affording businesses better continuity.  

In today’s extremely candidate short markets, contractors are being utilised more and more to support the above objectives, increasing efficiencies whilst offering more flexibility. 

For overseas projects, hiring international workers on a contract basis can help to minimise any complications surrounding visa applications, work permits, and payroll. 

Hiring employees on a contract basis allows businesses to evaluate the relevancy of any new role creations within the business and to fine-tune the structure of new vacancies. Contractors can also be used to assess an individual’s capability before committing to hiring somebody full-time.

Looking to hire contractors as part of your recruitment strategy?

We have a dedicated team working solely on contract recruitment roles, headed up by Founding Director, Martin Anderson. 

The team offers a thorough process to ensure all required checks are conducted and documentation is in place before your contractor starts.  We'll then be on hand throughout to support you both, making the journey as smooth and efficient as possible. 

Get in touch with Martin Anderson via martin@carrotrecruitment.com to discuss your requirements or visit our Contract Recruitment page for more information