First Time Interviewing a Temporary Employee? Here’s What You Need to Know

Congratulations! After months of searching for the right temp agency in Boston, you’ve signed on the dotted line and are ready to reap the benefits of utilizing their expertise to enhance your workforce. So, now what? If this is the first time you’ve worked with temporary employees, there are a few things you need to know in order to make sure things run smoothly as you prepare for your first interviews.

Clear Communication is Key

You might wonder why your recruiters are asking so many questions about the role, your company culture, your company goals, etc. It is critical for the recruiter to know exactly what you’re looking for in a new employee, whether they are temporary, temp-to-hire or permanent. Even temporary employees must have the right skills and personalities to succeed. Be free and open with communication surrounding what you need, so the recruiter can make the right matches for you. Remember, it’s best to err on the side of too much information, rather than too little information.

Remember, a Lot of Work Has Been Done for You

By the time a potential temporary employee walks in the door for an interview, your recruiter has already done much of the “heavy lifting.”  The recruiter has screened them, assessed their skills and determined whether they would be culturally aligned with your organization.  You’ve also probably discussed each potential candidate directly with your recruiter, so you know the person sitting across from you has what you’re looking for. Therefore, you can skip over a lot of the “getting to know you” questions you’d ask in a traditional job interview and focus on asking questions that are directly related to the candidate’s ability to do the job. This includes questions about skills, tasks, behavior, emotional intelligence, etc.

If you’re unsure exactly what to focus on during an interview of a temporary candidate, ask your recruiter. They can help you develop a list of thorough and relevant questions to help you make a final hiring decision.

Your Feedback is Essential to the Process

After an interview is over, call your recruiter to debrief about how things went. Whether the candidate knocked it out of the park or they fumbled, your recruiter needs to know what went right and what went wrong. They use your feedback to continually improve their own process for screening candidates for you. Your candor is essential, so they can either replicate the process in the future or make adjustments as needed.

Are You Hiring Temp Employees in Boston?

If you are looking to utilize temporary employees to enhance your current workforce, it pays to work with the best. At Contemporaries, Inc., we help Boston employers make smart hiring choices that help companies achieve their goals. Contact us today to learn how we can help you control costs and improve the quality of your temporary hires.