The Temporary and Contract Recruiter
This session discusses the competencies crucial for temporary recruiters, contrasting with the skills needed by permanent staff recruiters. It highlights the reality of the temp recruitment industry, noting the prevalence of temporary roles across organizations of all sizes, citing an example from Qantas during COVID. The challenges unique to temporary recruitment are presented, such as the longer initial phase required to establish a successful temp desk, the volatility in temp staff numbers, and the consistent need for proactive engagement in business development and candidate interaction. This work is portrayed as demanding but rewarding, with successful temp recruiters achieving steady bonuses once their desk is established. There's an emphasis on the importance of strong, ongoing relationships with temp workers, who legally become employees of the recruitment agency, and the necessity of maintaining constant candidate engagement to prevent losing valuable temps to competitors. Lastly, the presenter argues that temp recruitment tends to be more resilient during economic downturns, suggesting a more stable career path compared to permanent recruitment roles. Specific influencing skills and the ability to create mutually beneficial outcomes are also highlighted as key to succeeding in the temp recruitment space.