The Contractor Advantage: (10 ways to) Strategically use Contractors to Fast-track your projects

Ever wonder how massive software projects get done swiftly? Well, the secret is out, many software start-ups are using professional contractors to greatly enhance their company’s flexibility and competitiveness.
 Technical contractors can be a great choice!
So here’s a short guide on effectively utilizing technical resources throughout your business:

1. Get It Right from the Start: How Clarity Wins In Staffing

  • Highlighting clear objectives and skill requirements set the stage for stellar technical contract hires.
  • Being able to engage an agency with a list of what you want makes for more accurate hires and clearer project resource planning.
  • It’s also good to know how you’d like to successfully communicate with the freelancer. Outline the current challenges expected for the contractor to complete, and establish project completion goals.

2. Spot-On Staffing: Ensuring Your Agency Knows IT as Well as You Do

Choose an agency that understands your unique needs
  • First, choose a staffing agency that specializes in IT. The right agency will vet their candidates for you by asking technical questions even before you interview them.
  • A great agency has the ability to distinguish excellent candidates from poor or unqualified ones. This is crucial, so you don’t waste time or money in the long run.
  • Understand a generalized agency without a tech focus might find this level of vetting challenging to achieve

3. Team Fusion: The Key to Successful Contractor Integration

Once you have chosen your contractors, integrating them into your existing teams effectively can be best for culture and morale.
Ensure that they meet the result of their project teammates, have clear directions during onboarding and have access to the tools information necessary to perform their roles. Effective integration also involves good communication practices, involving them in regular meetings and update sessions.

4. Set Up Those Reporting Structures

For project management needs to establish what communication channels and reporting structures the contractor will need to adhere to.
Contractors should know who they report to and when they should report their progress. Use project management tools and platforms that foster collaboration and transparency, such as Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana.

5. Provide Access to Necessary Tools and Resources

Double check your freshly onboarded contractors have access to the necessary compliance training, technical resources, software, and project data.
This enables them to perform effectively, maintaining security and compliance standards across the project. Also remember! You can win over highly experienced contractors with exciting software projects. Many contractors are eager to work with companies that offer inspiring and innovative software opportunities!

6. Feedback Fuels Performance: How to Keep Your Contractors on Track

Regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of your contractors. By setting up interim goals and review sessions to assess progress and work completion.
Providing positive and negative feedback to the staffing agency about a contractor is helpful to evaluate their value to the company. Allow the agency to address any issues promptly to keep the project on track. Positive performance management is crucial as well to maximizing their value on your project.

7. Train to Retain: Keep Your Contractors Sharp and Ready to Re-engage Invite contractors to group Training and Development Opportunities, because why not.

If your project is long-term or you are considering re-engaging the contractors in the future for a full-time position – investing in their training and development could be very beneficial. This not only enhances their productivity but also helps in aligning their skills more closely with your business needs.

8. Plan for Transition & Knowledge Transfer

Towards the end of their contract, plan for a smooth transition of their responsibilities back to your team or to another contractor. Include documentation and knowledge transfer in their deliverables to avoid any loss of information or disruption in ongoing projects.

9. From One Expert to Another

Crafting Perfect Post-Project Pass-offs
  • It’s important to review and reflect after the completion of a project or contract term.
  • Analyze what worked well and what could be improved.
  • Gather feedback from team members and the contractors themselves. Use this insight to refine your approach for future engagements.

Using technical freelance contractors can be a strategic advantage when managed effectively. Following these steps will ensure that your organization will be golden! Need extra help with your tech projects?
Using RapidHire Staffing to bring on your next loved technical resource could be what your team needs. Fill an upcoming project role with a full-time or contract candidate today.

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