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When You Need Expert Help in a Hurry

By Ken Ball

The project deadline screams from the calendar. You look around the office and know you need more people to complete the project. If this sounds familiar, chances are you've asked yourself this question: Should I hire a full time employee or bring on a consultant for the life of the project?

Hiring may take longer than the immediate need allows. Once managers have permission to hire, they must write job descriptions, interview candidates, and contact references. Human Resources may support this effort, but in some cases the necessary processes on their end can also take time. The need to hire creates more work at multiple points within the company, and the manager hasn't even selected and trained the employee yet.

Hiring may take longer than the immediate need allows. Once managers have permission to hire, they must write job descriptions, interview candidates, and contact references. Human Resources may support this effort, but in some cases the necessary processes on their end can also take time. The need to hire creates more work at multiple points within the company, and the manager hasn't even selected and trained the employee yet.

To stay competitive, many hiring managers turn to consultants to have an experienced resource available quickly, or as a specialist for a demanding project. Some managers go a step further and forge relationships with consulting firms and recruiters. Working with a reliable consulting firm can be a win/win for the company and the consultant. Benefits to the company include:

Guarantee: A professional consulting firm guarantees their client's success-as opposed to simply finding a resume for a position. This is a guarantee that employees and individual consultants can't usually make.

Timing: Consulting firms respond quickly. They understand what kind of skills and personality fit managers need. The best firms pre-screen, interview, and check references of all qualified consultants before they present them, which leaves managers more time for other tasks, and gets them the help they need quickly.

Flexibility: Working with a consulting firm means you have help when you need it, not when you don't. Partnering with a consulting firm also eliminates the need to lay off workers during slow times, or search for qualified help during busy times.

Liability: A knowledgeable consulting firm makes sure all IRS and EDD requirements are fulfilled, and are the employer of record if any problems occur.

Often, successful managers work with the same consulting firm throughout their career-the consulting firm simply becomes another tool for success.

TechProse specializes in business solutions for clients, in both the corporate and public sectors. Our project management methodology is designed to achieve successful phased completion of your projects. The solution may be an individual, a team, or a process. We analyze business needs and help you use technology to work better, faster, and cheaper.

We work to provide the services that fulfill your specific objectives, complete the project, and leave you with the tools and knowledge to maintain or update the deliverables as needed. We can be your outsourced division, or provide specific individual experts for your success.