3 Best Practices for Onboarding Temp Talent in IT

When it comes to temporary staffing, onboarding temp talent can be a unique process. Temporary staffing can be a great option for businesses as it allows flexibility and support when teams need it most. Oftentimes companies use temporary staff in their busy seasons when they are feeling overwhelmed, meaning they need support quickly. As such, seamlessly and efficiently onboarding your temporary staff is critical to boost productivity and make the most out of your temporary hires. 

Below are a few considerations for best practices when gearing up to onboard your temporary hires: 

Best Practices for Onboarding Temp Talent

Preparation & Instruction

Preparation is a key part of onboarding as you need to make sure the existing team is receptive and ready for the temporary employees to take on their roles. As such, making sure you have specified roles and expectations for each team member will make the transition smooth. For example, if temporary staff is joining to help with an SAP implementation, managers should designate each team member with a task in the project such as coding or change management, etc.  

Don’t forget to make sure that the new team members have all the resources they need for the project at hand. Arrange for password and system access so that information can be readily accessed to the new members. 

Job-Specific Training & Orientation Materials

Temporary employees typically have a specific goal to accomplish during their time, like helping build a new c-suite team or implementing a new ERP system. Therefore, creating trainings that apply specifically to that role is the best way for them to get their information quickly. As these employees are often brought on to complete a specific project, informing them of the inner workings of every department may not be the most time effective onboarding process. Although debriefing permanent hires on the full picture of the organization is standard and necessary, it’s important to remember that some details could be irrelevant to temporary workers. Training temporary workers on the software, tools, policies, and team members that they will be directly working with instead will inform them of the most critical information relevant to their job. 

Team Integration

Team integration is so important, not only for permanent hires but also for temporary employees, as good team dynamics are critical when trying to meet a deadline. Organizing a mentorship program or assigning team members to help temporary employees integrate into the team could be extremely helpful. While temporary employees may feel like outsiders to team members that have been a part of an organization for years, the whole team, including the temporary employees, are all working towards a common goal and searching for ways to better the organization. Make sure you emphasize the importance of communication and reiterate each team member’s unique roles and responsibilities to ensure the transition will be smooth and effective. This can be initiated through introductions and team bonding exercises and carried out with regular check-in and consistent feedback.  

Looking Ahead

Temporary employees can bring great benefits to your organization with specialized skills and flexibility. However, ensuring that you are getting your full value from temporary staff starts with the onboarding process. It is essential that your current team members and the temporary staff you are bringing on are well-equipped and prepared for the transition.  

For more guidance and information on how to onboard your temporary employees, contact experts at BCTG for help.   

Contributions from Leah Harding