A new personnel concept known as the "Working Interview" is gaining acceptance in the business world. So what is it and how does it work?" I hope this will be a simple explanation of how this recruitment tool and hiring tactic can fit into your overall hiring strategy.

What Is A Working Interview?
When you have a personnel opening you may choose to fill the vacancy by hiring a temporary who is looking for a full-time position. This new hiring practice is called a "Working Interview." Many people prefer this method of hiring because positions are filled faster. With the Working Interview there is little, if any up-front interviewing. The hiring decision is made after the temporary has demonstrated satisfactory performance on the job.

Why Should I Do It?
There are several reasons why the Working Interview may be feasible for your personnel needs. With the Working Interview, mistakes can be easily fixed. If a candidate is not working out, that candidate can be immediately replaced. You don't have to live with a hiring mistake. Other benefits include the fact that recruitment costs are amortized over a longer period of time, advertising costs are reduced, you have more flexibility than with a full-time hire and you enjoy non-employer status. Your staffing service is the employer and, thus, is responsible for W-2's, I-9's, taxes, unemployment claims, etc.

How Does It Actually Work?
Once you have identified what kind of candidate you're looking for, call your staffing consultant and ask if they have any available  candidates who would be willing to work as a temporary with the goal of eventually converting (if both parties are satisfied) to full-time. Once a prospect is identified and agreed upon, a start date is worked out. Then the two parties try each other out and, at any time after the start date, providing both parties mutually agree, the employment can become full-time.

Typical Applications
Typical applications for the Working Interview are entry-level positions, positions that need to be filled immediately, problem positions where turnover has been costly, business owners and supervisors who prefer testing their compatibility with a candidate before hiring a full-time employee, questionable areas that need to be tested and, generally, companies in the state of major organizational change or uncertainty. Working Interviews also occur at higher levels and are sometimes referred to as contract hires.

Success
Whether or not this particular program fits into your overall recruitment strategy, you should be aware of it. It can save your company time and money. The quicker you fill needed vacancies with the right candidate, the smoother your organization will run.