The HBR's The Big Factors That Attract the Best Freelancers provides an excellent overview of why companies are hiring more freelancers and what organizations need to do to attract top flight contingent talent.
The article is based on studies by the authors and taken from their soon to be released book Agile Talent (I've already pre-orderd my copy).
A question we often get is why are companies increasing their use of contingent talent.
The article answer this question nicely with a succinct list of the 5 key reasons:
The Top 5 Complaints of Executives Regarding External Talent
1. It’s difficult to find experts who match our culture
2. Externals don’t know our business well enough to contribute
3. Externals are often too abstract in their approach
4. Externals lack commitment to our organization
5. Externals seem to be reading from a script rather than trying to understand our unique problems
Please note that despite what you read in the press, cost is only one of the reasons. And as we've reported in the past, access to specialized talent and increasing business flexibility and agility are key reasons for the growing use of external talent.
We also really like their suggestions on how companies can better attract highly skilled contingent talent. Key quote:
Unsurprisingly, these factors are not much different than those that build good relationships with your internal, full-time employees. Line of sight, good performance management, effective working relationships, and reasonable and transparent administrative procedures are logical antecedents of satisfaction — whether for full-time staff or for the agile talent brought in to work a particular project.
Definitely see the article for details.
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