Contractor Hiring - Balancing Speed & Quality

Top IT contractors are rarely on the market for long, so if you want to attract them to your next project, your window to act is small. Unwieldy hiring processes and slow decision making could mean you miss out on hiring top talent, slowing down your entire project timeline. 

Securing the right contractor for a specialised role can be challenging and often frustrating. A single contractor listing can attract hundreds of applications, leaving your team with a significant amount of applications to review and candidates to progress through the hiring process - only to discover that your top choices are no longer available by the time you’re ready to make an offer. In such a fast-moving and competitive market, time to hire is critical; the most sought-after IT contractors are often off the market within days rather than weeks, meaning any hesitation can quickly cost you the ideal fit for your project.

Those delays in recruiting a contractor have a very real knock-on effect on your business; not only do you lose the chance to recruit the best person for the role, but it can mean setbacks to your project roadmap as you sort through the contractor market. 

Partnering with a recruitment specialist can cut through your concerns. Not only do they have access to an existing pool of top talent, but they can also connect you to the right person with the right skills for your project effectively and, most importantly, fast.

Speed vs quality 

Contract IT specialists are in high demand right now, as companies seek advanced technical skills to develop cutting-edge solutions or move projects forward. Right now, roles in DevOps, cybersecurity, cloud architecture, AI and machine learning, and software development are intensely competitive, with top-quality, available talent being snapped up quickly. These contractors could be potentially receiving multiple offers within days of expressing their availability and won’t wait around for companies to make decisions on their suitability for a particular role or go through long, time-consuming hiring processes. 

However, moving fast doesn’t mean rushing into a decision or lowering your standards. If you want to secure the best person for your role, your hiring processes need to be efficient, effective and streamlined. This enables you to vet candidates for suitability and make decisions in a timely manner, before the candidate has moved on to another opportunity. It’s about finding that compromise between a speedy hiring process and securing top-end talent. At Spectrum IT, we have an average contractor hiring turnaround time of just seven days; our recruitment processes are streamlined, plus we have access to a quality talent pool, meaning we can secure in-demand contractors for our clients fast. In a whitepaper released by recruitment agency Robert Walters, only 6% of UK employers manage to hire a contractor in a week or less, with 28% taking three to four weeks. Contractors are often needed with more urgency than hiring for permanent roles. Across the broader labour market, the average time to hire across all roles (including contract and permanent hires) in the UK in Q3 2024 was 4.8 weeks (Source: TotalJobs Hiring Trends Index). 

Contractors themselves appreciate an efficient hiring process. In the same whitepaper, most contractors (95%) believe the hiring process should take less than three weeks, and 50% agree it should take between one and two weeks. Hiring companies should ensure clear communication at all stages, from initial application, through to interview, giving an offer and starting the role. Be honest and transparent about the scope of the project you’re hiring for and the expectations around timescales and rates. If you know you want a particular candidate for your role, be decisive with your offer and send it within a reasonable turnaround after interviews are complete – you’re far more likely to get the person you want. 

Once you’ve made an offer and it’s been accepted by the candidate, the onboarding process also needs to be efficient. At Spectrum IT, we ensure all paperwork, compliance and system setup is done as quickly as possible to support our clients with their onboarding processes. 

Plus, if you give your contractors a good experience from day one, they are more likely to want to stay on board and extend their contract or come back for future projects. Spectrum IT contractors extend, on average, 72% of the time, meaning our clients are less likely to need to re-hire, preventing future project delays. 

How to reduce time to hire 

What does a streamlined and efficient contractor hiring process look like in practice? 

• Clear overview of project and role – Contractors looking for their next placement want work that’s going to interest them, and where they feel they can make a positive impact. Clearly define the project you’re hiring a contractor for – what will the work involve, what skills are needed, what difference will the work make? This can hook the right candidates from the outset.
• Streamline the hiring process – Be clear about all steps of the hiring process and offer target turnaround times. Let candidates know what to expect and when. Video interviews can speed up the early stages of vetting candidates, and you may want to pre-book interview slots to avoid any delays. Good communication can keep candidates interested and invested. 
• Be upfront about parameters – Contractors will want to know what rate you’re offering, so make sure you’re up to date with current market rates so you can be competitive. Clarify IR35 status early on to prevent delays in hiring. Outline flexibility arrangements of the role – can you offer remote or hybrid working patterns, or flexible hours? Contractors will know exactly what they’re applying for, saving time on negotiation or clarification down the line. 
• Work with specialist recruiters – The most successful way to hire contractors fast is to have a talent pipeline you can pull from. This means building contacts, which can be time-consuming. Working in partnership with a recruiter who already has a talent pipeline can reduce time to hire, as candidates are pre-vetted, as well as save you valuable time searching. The recruiter can present you with relevant, qualified candidates as soon as you make the request. 

In the contractor market, speed offers you the competitive business advantage. It means less time lost on projects, as well as more chance of hiring the best possible person for your role. A streamlined hiring process will attract candidates who value transparency and decisiveness, while giving you enough information to make confident decisions without compromising your project timelines. 

Get in touch with Spectrum IT today to discuss your contractor hiring requirements. Our expert consultants can talk you through our recruitment process to secure the best candidates for your next hire.