You are sitting at your desk and the phone rings…

“Hi, it’s Kyle from Anchor Point”

“Hi Kyle, I can’t talk right now, I am at work”

That’s ok, just wanted to let you know about an opportunity that your skills and background would be a good fit…will you have some time to chat later?”

“Nope, I am not looking for another job”   (click)

What just happened?  Well, you just let a golden opportunity pass you by.  The opportunity Kyle called about, was it perfect?  Maybe and maybe not, but what was perfect was a chance to talk to someone with great insight and knowledge on what is going on in Indianapolis when it comes to IT companies.  Why is that important?  It is important because you have a job.  You work in the local IT community, you are employed.  You have survived some tough times and have made it through budget cuts and layoffs and (shudder) rightsizing.  You made it through because you are good at what you do, and make others look good.  It is important because you could fill that job, or know someone who could.  Maybe you know someone who doesn’t have a job, and would be perfect.  Maybe your friend at the company down the street is looking (or should be)?  How would Kyle know that if you don’t find out what he is calling about?  How can you tell Kyle about your buddy who would be great at that job?  What happened was a missed opportunity…for everyone.

Yes, I know you like your job.  Yes, I know you don’t like being called at work.  So tell me when a good time is to talk I will call you back.  Let me call you back and learn more about you…your skills, your experience, what you like about your job, what you don’t.   Tell me what would be the perfect job, life balance, compensation.  Tell me who you know, and what is important to you.  

Tell me what you see going on in Indianapolis.  Ask me what I see going on.  Are most companies in Indianapolis going away from Application Development Project Managers and hiring Scrum Masters?  Are there Coldfusion shops in Indy.  Does anyone still use an AS/400?  Do I see more contract opportunities or direct hire opportunities.  Use the opportunity to learn more, and to help us learn more.  This is a small little network, this Indianapolis IT community.   Use the opportunity to learn and educate.  You may find out something that makes your job easier, or another job may make your life easier.

I understand you don’t want a new job today.  Give Kyle 10 minutes anyway.  He may have the perfect job for you, or at least some good insight.  You may eventually say no…just don’t say no first.

We get asked by job seekers all the time…why do companies do contract to direct hire instead of hiring directly?  I have heard many different “spins” as far as an answer to this question.  Here is the truth:

Companies do contract to hire as a benefit to both themselves, and the candidate they are hiring.  Companies spend lots of resources when hiring a new employee (much as candidates spend lots of resources finding an new opportunity).  In most cases, the hiring process moves fairly quickly.  Companies have needs, and perspective employees want to move to a new job, or secure a job.  The vetting process, while trying to be thorough, usually moves too fast for both the company and the candidate to get a true sense of what both have to offer.  The company is trying to get the best candidate possible, and will present the opportunity in the best light.  The candidate is trying to get the best opportunity, and present themselves in the most positive way possible.  Within the interview process, it is hard for both parties to get a true sense of one another.  Contract to hire gives both the company and the candidate a window, after starting the job, to get comfortable with all that each party has to offer.  For the company, it is an opportunity to see the candidate in action, and understand how they work and fit in to the organization.  For the candidate, it is a period that they can start the job, and make sure they are comfortable with all that the organization stands for, and is trying to accomplish.

The real benefit for each party is this:  For the company, if the candidate is not the right fit, they can make that decision within the contract time frame, and move on.  For the candidate, if the job isn’t what they expected or wanted, they can make that decision within the contract period, and put on their resume that it was a contract position (as opposed to trying to explain in the next interview why they left a “permanent” position in such a short time frame.   It really is a benefit to both parties, as everyone is looking for the best they can get…the best candidate, and the best opportunity.  The best benefit for the candidate?  If they do a great job in the contract period, they have some ammunition to get a better permanent offer.

So the next time you are presented with a contract to direct hire opportunity, take a good look.  It really is in your best interest.