Five top tips to get the most out of your summer temp team

Are you hiring temporary staff this summer to cover the shortfall of permanent staff during the holiday period? Or do you use the quiet months to complete projects that have remained unfinished? The summer period offers an excellent opportunity to hire a temp team to help catch up on tasks. 

"Just because a summer team comes to an organisation for just a few weeks, it is all the more important that he or she feels at ease quickly and is productive." says Suzanne Feeney, Director at Robert Walters.

Here are Suzanne's 5 top tips to get the best out of your temporary team:

1. Prepare the first day well
Just because a summer team comes to an organisation for just a few weeks, it is all the more important that he or she feels at ease quickly and is productive.

If someone is only employed for a short-term, it is important that they get to work as quickly as possible. To begin with, make sure that everything needed for the temp team to do their job is present. For example, get logins up and running, have an access pass ready and make sure that the computer is ready to log on to etc. Suzanne continued: “Make sure that there is a job description and that the temp professional has clear objectives of what is expected of them in their role. Also make sure that someone has blocked time in their calendar to help get them up and running, whether this is a manager or the person he or she is temporarily replacing.”

2. Monitor their progress

“Employers sometimes think that progress meetings are unnecessary for a temporary employee,” says Suzanne. “But explaining the tasks on the first day and leaving it at that is not enough. By monitoring how things go each week and evaluating where they stand with their projects, you ensure that your summer teams are working as effectively as possible and know what is expected of them.”

3. Involve your summer temps within your organisation

Ensure that all employee's feel welcome and know which people they can ask questions within the company. “It sounds so obvious but invite your temporary colleague to lunch. Such a simple gesture can make a world of difference for a temporary force.” says Suzanne.

4. Motivate your employees

Temporary jobs are not always the most challenging type. For example, getting rid of a pile of overdue administration can be quite monotonous. Yet there are ways to ensure that this type of work also offers satisfaction. Suzanne says: “It can help to break up an assignment in parts so that a piece of the job is always done. That will give your temp team the satisfaction of completing a task and they will go into the next phase of the role with renewed energy. In addition, it helps by putting the tasks in a broader perspective. If the employee realises how they contribute to the well-being of the organisation, that in turn will give them an extra incentive to deliver good work.”

5. Leave a good impression

Be aware that every colleague that has worked within the organisation is a business card for your company, even once the summer period is over. “90% of applicants share a bad working experience with their friends.” Suzanne continues: “Make sure you leave a good impression with your temporary colleague and remember to close the project off in a well-ordered manner so that your summer temp will leave your company with a good feeling about the business.” 

If you'd like to find out more about hiring a temp team, please contact Suzanne Feeney: suzanne.feeney@robertwalters.com