September 15, 2004
Interim-Staffing Services From Ayers—A Solution to Changing HR Needs
As the economy has improved and companies have gone into hiring mode, many find themselves in an awkward position. “Organizations that cut their HR staffs after the recent waves of downsizing are now short-handed,” says Terry Ebert, Managing Director of Career Transition Services at The Ayers Group. “Some are reluctant to add full-time head count in corporate functions. Interim staffing can be the solution.”
Ayers has been providing HR interim-staffing services for nearly a decade. “Clients have come to us with needs in a variety of situations,” Terry says. “Our business gives us access to a cadre of HR professionals who work on a consulting basis, which enables us to meet temporary needs with highly qualified talent.”
A sampling of assignments includes the following:
- When the rapid growth of a major pharmaceutical company strained the capacity of its internal recruiters, the company augmented its recruiting team with an Ayers consultant.
- An international bank with a small presence in Connecticut recognized that its needs did not justify keeping a full-time HR professional. After the incumbent declined to convert to part-time status, Ayers placed a consultant there on a long-term, part-time assignment.
- When the HR Director at a client company went on maternity leave, Ayers provided a senior-level generalist to fill the position until the employee returned.
- A small but growing broker-dealer decided to develop a national network of call centers. Rapid implementation was critical, but the firm’s HR staff was already stretched by the demands of rapid growth. Ayers put a team in place to handle the recruiting on a turnkey basis up to the final interview—at well below the client’s per-person recruiting cost.
- A community bank divesting a large business as the result of a merger lacked the HR staff to handle the project. Ayers brought in two consultants who helped the bank with everything from planning the human resources aspects of the divestiture through execution of specific details.
The Ayers Group anticipates growing demand for interim staffing. “Aside from the general improvement in the economy and the acceleration in hiring, there is quite a bit of M&A activity in community banking, where we have specialized expertise,” Terry says. “We have several consultants in place right now and requirements for a number of others, ranging from a full-time contract recruiter of sales people for the high-net-worth practice of a financial institution to other recruiters and HR generalists. Given our experience, we can offer clients a great deal of value.”
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