What a Temp Can Teach You About Your Own Business

Most hiring managers are aware that one of the secondary benefits for a temporary employee is that the can learn a lot from any organization that hires them. What they may not be aware of, however, is that bringing in a temp can actually teach them a thing or two about their own organization.

Temps provide an outsider perspective. It is easy for a business to become so consumed by internal issues and goals that it falls out of touch with what its customers want and with the larger world in general. It’s also very common for companies to do some of the things that they do simply because that’s how they do them in the past. Temps bring the perspective of someone who has been out in the world. Moreover, temps have worked in similar companies, and they bring information they learned from those companies to lend insight into your business.

Temps help clarify areas in which workflow may need streamlining. If a temp does not know where to go for guidance or needs numerous approvals to finalize a project, you know that your business is likely more cumbersome than it should be. Streamlined processes save money and time, and they make for happier and more-efficient employees. Having a temp can also let a business tinker with how it divides responsibilities and help it find the best way to structure itself.

Temps test your company’s onboarding process. Onboarding is the way in which new employees and temps adjust to their jobs. They learn and (hopefully) meet expectations. However, many companies do not have official onboarding processes, and the processes of many who do have them need overhauling. Look at how quickly and efficiently a temp gets up to speed. Analyze what could have been done better, and ask the temp as well. Remember, you should always view temps as potential full-time hires.

Common onboarding pitfalls include information overload and its opposite, a dearth of information. One simple remedy is to clearly label internal and physical files, and the locations of supply closets, various offices and the like.

Image source :  Stuart Miles