The rise of — and demand for — contractors is starting to rewrite the rules of talent. Twenty to thirty percent of the workforce in the U.S. and the EU15 is doing some type of independent work, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, and 42% of U.S. executives plan on hiring more of these workers in the coming years.
A Guide to Finding and Hiring the Best Contractors
Based on data from 6 million LinkedIn profiles.
July 17, 2017
Summary.
Companies are increasingly relying on skilled contractors, but hiring them at scale is a fairly new phenomenon. Identifying people who are both open to new opportunities — and who are also open to contract work — can be challenging. Analysis of 6 million LinkedIn profiles, in addition to a survey of 600 contractors, sheds some light on who is working in that role and why. The resulting information shows that companies should be open to industry transfers and a wide range of experience levels. In addition, they should provide competitive compensation, appeal to what contractors want for their careers, and be upfront and honest about the length and duration of the job in question.
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New!
HBR Learning
Attracting and Cultivating Talent Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Attracting and Cultivating Talent. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Discover how to attract, hire, develop, and keep talented people who will grow and thrive throughout their employee journey.