The Benefits of Using Freelancers During the Coronavirus Outbreak

In light of recent government advice, we’ve found that many of our clients have made the decision to ask their employees to work from home. Despite this, the majority of companies are adopting the ‘business as usual’ mantra (as are we!) and are still pressing ahead with their recruitment processes, conducting any interviews they can via Skype, Webex etc. (click to read our handy how-to guide for successfully video interviewing from home).

For some, it has been necessary to put a freeze on any permanent recruitment activities. But this doesn’t mean the recruitment process needs to stop altogether. Instead, we’d like to ask companies to consider hiring freelancers / contractors as an alternative. We applaud our clients who have already taken this stance and believe the use of freelancers could be beneficial to a wide range of companies during current circumstances.

What are the benefits of using freelancers?

There’s always been a requirement for freelance workers across the majority of industries and the benefits they can bring to a company are plentiful:

• The use of freelancers will enable you to tap into exciting pools of talent, all with their own skills and expertise they’ll be able to bring to your company.
• Freelancers are great for temporary work. Given current circumstances, taking on a freelancer for project work could be a great alternative to a permanent hire, especially if it’s unclear how long this project could be running for.
• Freelancers are highly adaptable to new and changing working circumstances. This means they’ll have the ability to press on with any work required asap and there will be no or little need for a formal induction or onboarding process.
• Freelancers are more often than not a cost-effective option (even those with higher charge rates) as you’re not paying a full-time salary - or taking into account holiday days or extra benefits. You’ll also have the option to extend contracts as and when required.
• Freelancers are always hungry for work, so you know they’ll work efficiently while producing high quality work.
• The hiring process for freelancers and contract workers is typically quicker than that for permanent hires, which means you’ll have someone in place for your recruitment needs sooner. Freelancers may have a project they need to finish up, but they don’t usually have notice periods to work.

Using freelancers can help to smooth out the peaks and troughs of a business (which is more relevant now than ever before). Taking on an employee in a freelance position now could see you offering them a permanent position further down the line.

Typical roles freelancers could cover

Many sectors across pharma, consumer health and medical devices already have requirements for freelance workers. We’ve highlighted some positions below which could effectively be worked by a freelancer, but this list is far from exhaustive. If you’re looking for a freelance or contract option not mentioned please contact us today - we’ll be more than happy to assist with your needs!

Freelance Supply Chain and Quality Assurance roles:

• Demand and Supply Chain Planner
• Head of Supply Chain
• QA Specialist
• Auditor
• Qualified Person
• Responsible Person

Freelance Healthcare Communications roles:

• Client Services (all levels)
• Medical Writers (all levels)
• Communications Specialists

Freelance Clinical roles:

• Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
• Senior CRA
• Clinical Trial Manager
• Clinical Project Manager

Freelance Market Research and Business Intelligence roles:

• A requirement for freelancers across the board – from junior to senior researchers.

How Carrot Recruitment can help with your freelance needs

We’re highly experienced in working with freelancers and contractors alike across all our sectors. Our specialist recruitment consultants have strong networks in place already, and with access to LinkedIn Recruiter we could have a freelancer placed into your business in no time.

We can provide expert advice to companies new to using freelancers or contractors and can offer guidance and support to both sides throughout the process. (The UK government has just delayed changes to the IR35 tax rules resulting in less pressure on businesses and individuals.)

If you’re a freelancer looking for a new opportunity within pharma/biotech, consumer health or medical devices please register with us today and one of our consultants will be in touch shortly.