At the end of last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago for the 2009 Top Echelon Network Fall Conference. The event was held on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, at the Sheraton Gateway Suites. As the President of Top Echelon Contracting, I met all of the recruiters in attendance at the conference and spoke to quite a few of them about contract staffing and the benefits that it offers.
I was very much encouraged by the number of recruiters who expressed an interest in contracting. In fact, it seemed that contracting was a high-profile topic of conversation throughout the entire conference. One such instance was during a speaker panel in which four of the Top Producers in the Network shared their “secrets of success” with those in attendance. All of them cited contracting as a reason they’ve been able to enjoy so much success . . . and for more than one of them, they described it as a major reason.
In addition, many of the recruiters I spoke with on an individual basis told me that they’re interested in getting into contracting. I’ve been to quite a few Top Echelon Network conferences down through the years, and I would say that the level of interest in contracting at this event was among the highest I’ve ever seen. The really good news is that these recruiters are overcoming the “fear factor” that’s involved when it comes to contracting . . . namely because there’s nothing to be afraid of. They’re discovering this truth, and they’re not letting the “fear factor” stop them from adding contract staffing to their business model.
Whether or not the recession is officially over is a mute point at best. What’s important is that recruiters aren’t receiving as many direct-hire job orders from their clients as they have in the past. However, companies are still willing to hire candidates on a contract basis in order to finish projects and meet deadlines. As a result, recruiters are using contracting as a way to supplement their direct-hire work and generate steady cash flow.
As 2009 comes to a close, it doesn’t appear that’s going to change. Contracting is not only an attractive option for companies, it’s attractive for recruiters, as well.
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